posted Oct 4th, 2015 - The 4-way update of Belgium's national 4-way championships came four weeks after the conclusion of the event, although scores and leaderboard information were posted timely by the Sun Path Products NSL News.

The Belgian 8-way competition was completed last weekend, and the news update offers additional event information much earlier this time.

There is a very good reason why the 8-way update deserves special attention. NMP-PCH Hayabusa winning another national 4-way title was nothing unusual, even though the closer look at the other categories on the Belgian 4-way leaderboard was interesting, as well.

However, it was something very new to see the names of the 4-way world champions on the Belgian 8-way leaderboard.

Belgian Nationals 2015

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

8-way Open

14,11,12

17,B,A,P

7,O,C,E

19,10,1

G,21,22

15,K,N,4

F,5,20

18,D,16

9,J,3

6,M,8

Total

Avg

1

Thund8rbirds

15

15

16

15

16

23

15

17

19

12

163

16.3

The topic of the Thund8rbirds 8-way team is nothing new for the Sun Path Products NSL News audience. Earlier stories and the preview of the FAI World Cup 2015 on September 14th introduced the powerful and promising 8-way combination of 4-way teams Thunder ISR and NMP-PCH Hayabusa.

Unfortunately, the Thund8rbirds story did not get the expected happy end at the world cup, as the team withdrew from the competition for intensively discussed and disputed reasons.

However, both teams have had too much fun in training, and generally with the 8-way project, that they decided to continue with the remaining plans for the 2015 season.

Danny Jacobs' 8-way videos of the 16.3 average at the national championships are now clearly showing what the Formation Skydiving competition community was missing in Teuge.

FAI World Cup 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		1,4,D	E,3,L,G	C,16,N,9	13,J,11	Q,2,A,14	K,7,8	P,18,21	15,12,F	B,22,O,10	20,5,M	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Maubeuge	FR	28	30	23	18	18	17	18	26	19	18	215	21.5
2	Tanay	RU	24	24	19	17	17	15	14	20	15	15	180	18.0
	Thund8rbirds	BE	15	15	16	15	16	23	15	17	19	12	163	16.3
3	Qatar Falcons	QA	17	19	15	12	13	13	12	15	13	14	143	14.3
4	M8trix	NL	20	17	15	12	11	11	13	17	12	11	139	13.9
5	ex3menergy	IT	11	10	12	9	8	9	11	11	10	8	99	9.9
6	Awkward Turtles	UK	7	4	5	6	3	6	5	2	4	4	46	4.6

The combined leaderboard of the FAI World Cup and the Belgian 8-way Nationals indicates the position where the Thund8rbirds might have finished in Teuge. Of course, competition draw and meet conditions were different at both events. However, there is no doubt that the Thund8rbirds would have won the FAI World Cup bronze medals behind France and Russia.

In fact, the Thund8rbirds moved themselves up to the top level right behind the three 8-way powerhouses (USA - France - Russia) in the medal positions at this point in time. Arizona Airspeed's 8-way lineup might be the only additional 8-way team in the world on a higher scoring level.

The Sun Path Products NSL News pointed out in yesterday's update that the Belgian 4-way teams are positioning themselves stronger on international leaderboards every year. The Thund8rbirds will do the same in 8-way if the team can iron out eligibility issues. First, the Thund8rbirds will meet the best 8-way teams in the world directly and very soon at the Clash of Champions...