posted Aug 3rd, 2009 - The competition draw for Russia's national championship has already been posted. What can be expected this week at the competition site of next year's World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Menzelinsk?

Two Russian teams, Extreme.RU and Black Cat, own the official world record for a single round, with 44-pointers scored at the Malevsky Cup 2006. Arizona Airspeed just tied this record at the World Games 2009. The Russian Sky Panthers placed 2nd at the same event and beat France Maubeuge and Hayabusa Defence in Taiwan.

Russia's competition draw doesn't allow any team to challenge the 44-pointer world record this week. Round 4 has probably the fastest sequence (B-K-7-A) and is still too slow for a world record score, even for one of the current owners, Black Cat.

Black Cat is probably the strongest team in the field. The Sky Panthers are not competing at the Russian Nationals 2009. It's once again Leonid Kazinez' turn to compete with Vladimir Pavlenko, Oleg Shalamykhin and Sergej Shenin. The team name will turn again into Skylight Barkli, as Michail Kuznetsov takes a break after competing at the World Games 2009 in Taiwan.

12 teams have signed up for the competition, 11 Russian teams and a guest team from Kazakhstan. All the Russian top teams are in Menzelinsk, only Michail Kuznetsov is missing.

The field promises a great competition. Skylight Barkli has won two previous meets in Russia, and underdog Kaktus Hunter has been the strongest challenger. Black Cat has not attended any of the meets so far and is still the top contender for the championship title this year.