posted Jun 16th, 2015 - The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on May 11th that AA and A Class teams can win serious cash at the Clash of Champions at the end of the year in Dubai:

"The prize money for the AA and A Class teams is also something that has not been seen yet in the history of the sport.

The three best AA Class teams receive a total of $20,000 ($10,000 - $7,000 - $3,000) while the A Class teams share a total of $13,000 ($7,000 - $4,000 - $2,000) for the three winners."

The host, Inflight Dubai, has followed up with the rules for the competition in the meantime, which include the qualification and eligibility for the different categories in Formation Skydiving competition.

It will be the first time in history that AA and A Class teams compete for significant amounts of cash prizes, which could easily change the natural process of registration for the traditional competition categories.

World Challenge 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class		6,H,1	22,9	P,D,E,K	18,Q,13	J,G,21	O,A,N,15	14,11	B,8,2	C,7,20	4,19	Total	Avg
1	Chatterchicks	UK	16	17	28	13	17	20	14	17	17	13	172	17.2
2	Dubai Asaar Red	AE	16	14	22	14	17	18	13	17	16	15	162	16.2
3	Blue Rebels	GR	15	17	21	14	18	19	12	14	17	12	159	15.9

Some skydiving federations have eligibility rules for categories that do not apply the complete dive pool of the AAA/Open Class.

USPA has restrictions for AAA/Advanced Class teams and for the AA/Intermediate Class, as well. FAI/IPC apply only the AAA/Open Class category.

There has been no need in the past to police the registration beyond the existing eligibility rules, as medals, bragging rights, discounts and possibly a few hunderd dollars here and there would be the only rewards for winning or medaling in the lower categories but the AAA/Open Class.

The Clash of Champions changes this situation, as much as money in general brings changes to all ways of life.

World Challenge 2015			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		O,L,Q	4,21	P,F,H	K,J,E	N,M,B	C,2	19,A	G,D,6	8,9	7,8	Total	Avg
1	Flyspot Chicks	PL	25	12	35	25	31	16	15	15	14	15	203	20.3
2	PB FIRE	CZ	23	14	29	24	30	12	13	16	14	13	188	18.8
3	Team Rudi	BE	22	13	27	27	17	13	14	15	14	15	177	17.7

The host is aware of the potential for "sand-bagging", and one of the most experienced Formation Skydiving competitors in the history of the sport will have his eyes on the team registration and the lineups.

Pete Allum is the Formation Skydiving Coordinator and Chief Judge in Dubai, and he will feed the official Meet Director, Iain Scott "Freddy" Macdonald, with all team information that he has available.

Chances are little that any potential medal and cash contender might find a crack to slip through into a more promising lower category.

The Meet Director has the final word whether to accept the registration in any of the lower categories or not.

There is an official "sand-bagging" rule that has been added to the usual set of definitions:

"If your team (as an entirety) has previously won AA or A in a previous national skydiving championship or major tunnel competition, you can no longer compete in that category. The meet director reserves the right to deny entry into AA or A category. Please contact the FS coordinator if you are unsure of your eligibility to enter a particular category."

The winning average at a previous championship or major event is probably a factor, too, as this could be very different from country to country, or event to event. However, Formation Skydiving Coordinator Pete Allum is available for advice by e-mail and will consider all circumstances.