posted Apr 17th, 2014 - Aaron Faith attended his last competition with Satori at the Mondial Dubai 2012. He was serving in the British military before he moved to Bahrain to run his own coaching operation. Satori continued with a reduced training and competition schedule, and Steve Hamilton filled the open slot to win the UK Nationals 2013.

Satori's former Tail had connected with the military forces in Bahrain during his own service time and began coaching 4way there, while Satori continued with the Satori Academy project in the United Kingdom. Aaron Faith recently came back to his homeland, and he brought a team from Bahrain to attend the World Challenge 2014 for the first time.

The 4way team from Bahrain did not only attend the indoor meet. Bahrain won the A Class competition with an impressive 20.3 aerage, and Aaron Faith provided the Sun Path Products NSL News with more information about his team project.

World Challenge 2014		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	A Class	2,21	G,H,Q	B,L,M	K,O,P	C,8	A,J,6	D,F,N	E,4	7,9	19,21	Total	Avg
1	Bahrain (BH)	13	21	32	27	17	17	30	17	17	12	203	20.3
2	Fire Coopers (CZ)	11	19	33	24	12	18	22	16	19	13	187	18.7
3	Equinox (LT)	10	25	29	24	13	17	24	15	17	11	185	18.5
4	Sardegna (IT)	11	16	25	23	16	17	24	14	17	13	176	17.6
5	ChatterChicks (UK)	12	20	27	23	12	12	24	14	18	12	174	17.4
6	Fr4gment (UK)	11	16	25	19	12	14	20	14	17	11	159	15.9
7	Bodyflight Fly Wild (UK)	11	15	24	21	9	15	22	11	14	11	153	15.3
8	Funzies (DK)	10	18	20	15	9	10	19	15	15	11	142	14.2
9	Hard Corps (INT)	10	11	21	15	12	14	16	12	14	10	135	13.5
10	Wind Shear (IE)	9	15	19	18	7	11	20	12	13	9	133	13.3
10	AirRush (DK)	10	18	18	17	9	9	18	12	12	10	133	13.3
12	Satori Red (UK)	9	13	17	15	7	11	19	13	13	9	126	12.6
13	Bodyflight Black Majick (UK)	7	15	15	15	9	11	15	11	12	9	119	11.9
14	Marshmallows (IT)	8	11	16	15	10	11	15	9	13	8	116	11.6
15	Team Meteor (UK)	7	9	14	15	10	12	16	11	9	8	111	11.1
16	Jew Over Cuckoos Nest (UK)	8	10	15	10	9	12	14	10	11	9	108	10.8
17	Vortex (UK)	6	9	15	13	11	11	12	10	12	8	107	10.7
18	Tail Spin (IE)	7	9	12	12	8	11	14	9	11	6	99	9.9
19	Man Flew (IE)	8	5	12	11	6	10	9	7	11	7	86	8.6

The Bahrain Army team was primarily an Accuracy team before Aaron Faith arrived in Bahrain. They have attended the military world championships (CISM) each year and scored around a 6-point average in the CISM program.

Aaron Faith said that the team goal was to improve the average to a level where they would make the cut at the end of the competition, so they could complete all ten CISM rounds. The goal was accomplished at the last CISM event when Bahrain posted a new 11.5 record average. It was a serious achievement for the team, as they used to make only six training jumps per week in 4way.

The Bahrain Army team then made plans for the World Challenge 2014, which included a mini camp prior to the competition. Aaron Faith said that he spent a week with the team walking and creeping the four new blocks, so the team could compete in the A Class at Bodyflight Bedford.

Coach Aaron Faith was still surprised with the team's performance at the World Challenge 2014: "I had complete faith that the team would perform well, but even so they impressed me."

He also enjoys his work with the current team members: "They are an extremely likeable bunch of characters and work very well together. They have the perfect level of calmness for competition, yet are highly motivated. This is what makes them special in my eyes."

He said that he needed 20 years working on those mental skills to improve his own performance, while the Bahrain team members are naturally already there. He has learned by living and working in Bahrain that the Bahraini people are very friendly and hospitable, but there is also the athletic side: "What might not be obvious is that they are also very competitive."

The other 18 A Class teams at the World Challenge 2014 were facing the competitive skills and attitude of the Bahrain Army team. Fire Coopers from the Czech Republic and Equinox from Lithuania gave the A Class winner a good competition but had to accept 2nd and 3rd place at the end.

Aaron Faith said that Bahrain is becoming a part of the strongly growing 4way competition presence in the Middle East that the Sun Path Products NSL News mentioned in TURNING POINTS for BLUE SKIES MAG on 11 February 2014:

"jumping in Bahrain is getting more frequent, and the Bahrain Army is supporting the training of the team with time in the wind tunnel at Bedford and Dubai. They also have plans for a 16ft tunnel to be built in Bahrain in the very near future. Competitive teams from the Middle East have already made their mark - but watch this space...!"