posted Dec 13th, 2015 - DUBAI (UAE): The world's biggest indoor tunnel for flying proved to be an unrivalled success when more than 300 skydivers from over 20 countries gathered in the UAE for the first Clash of Champions, staged at Inflight Dubai.

With $200,000 in prize money, the event was comfortably the richest of its kind and flyers from all corners of the globe came to do battle in what turned out to be a fierce-ly-contested, three-day tournament featuring competition in three classes of 4-Way Dynamic, an AAA 8-Way Formation category and a Dynamic 2-Way.

Living up to its name, Clash of Champions attracted many of the sports biggest names, including a host of World Cup winners and World Champions.

Among them the near-invincible HayaBusa from Belgium who fought off Arizona Airspeed from the USA to win the AAA 4-Way Formation Skydiving category by 313 points to 305. Third place went to the French Weembi Lille on 295.

Clash of Champions 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		J,13,8	K,20,5	9,21,19	C,3,6	7,O,15	A,18,1	2,H,P,D	16,L,11	E,N,10,B	12,Q,F,22	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	26	32	30	28	33	29	41	28	37	29	313	31.3
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	28	30	29	30	34	27	39	28	34	26	305	30.5
3	Weembi Lille	FR	27	28	30	29	33	27	35	28	30	28	295	29.5

"We came here as favourites but we had to perform at our very best to see off Airspeed," said HayaBusa founder David Grauwels.

"It was a very exciting competition with the lead going back and forward but we did it and now we can look ahead to flying against Airspeed again at the World Air Games in Dubai, only this time in the sky not in the tunnel."

US flying legends Golden Knights were the dominant force in the AAA 8-Way Formation Skydiving class racking up an unofficial World Record individual round score on their way to gold.

Clash of Champions 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		L,F,C,7	5,6,19	2,9,3	G,A,12,10	B,11,22	16,1,21	K,M,18,P	E,O,J,8	Q,17,15	N,H,4,D	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	34	26	30	30	37	34	35	25	31	42	324	32.4
2	France Weembi	FR	29	22	25	26	30	30	28	27	28	34	279	27.9
3	Tanay	RU	29	22	20	22	31	30	27	23	25	38	267	26.7

The Americans took the title with a series of near-flawless performances and a total of 324 points that was a massive 45 points ahead of runners-up France Weembi (279) with Tanay of Russia third (267).

In the main AAA 4-Way Dynamic event, victory went to French team Windoor Warriors on 51 points who edged out home favourites Inflight Dubai Skynamic (48) by just three points, while Voss Vind of Norway claimed third on 35.

The AA Class podium was an all-girl affair with Czech flyers Hurricane Factory Chicks (194 points) taking gold chased by the UAE ladies team of Asaar Girls on 185 with Poland's Flyspot Chicks taking third on 181.

In the A Class there was another Czech win as Flying Circus claimed gold with 217 points, Amnesya of Italy finished second on 204 with Sky-Blockers Singapore in third on 194.

Clash of Champions 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		D,A,15	8,2	K,22,Q	14,J,M	L,21,F	13,11	N,1,19	O,4,6	E,G,B,18	C,9,P	Total	Avg
1	HF Chicks 3.0	CZ	23	15	22	25	21	5	16	17	24	26	194	19.4
2	Dubai Asaar Ladies	AE	20	14	18	24	17	13	15	17	19	28	185	18.5
3	Flyspot Chicks	PL	21	15	18	20	18	13	17	17	19	23	181	18.1

In the 2-Way Dynamic, there was an emotional home win for Dubai's highflying brother and sister pairing of Kayleigh and Noah Wittenburg who stunned the opposition by winning gold.

Competing as Mini Maktoum, the youngsters - aged just nine and eleven - beat off the challenge of an international field of all ages to win one of the premier titles on offer at a tournament, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Mini Maktoum took the gold with 157 points ahead of Czech team HF Ravens on 152 with the Singaporean team Team Firefly in third spot on 142 points.

"It's awesome to win at our home tunnel," said nine year-old Noah. "We've been training for five days a week to try and get on the podium so this is amazing."

Clash of Champions 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		K,L,19	6,4	N,7	D,2	O,M,B	P,9	E,21	G,Q,H	C,J,8	F,A,21	Total	Avg
1	Flying Circus	CZ	19	13	20	16	48	24	19	25	16	17	217	21.7
2	Amnesya RW4 Team	IT	17	15	19	13	37	24	17	23	18	21	204	20.4
3	Skyblockers Singapore	SG	16	17	19	16	33	14	17	25	14	23	194	19.4

Parents Julie and Mike Wittenburg - both skydivers themselves - were naturally emotional and delighted with a winning performance combining grace, speed and aerobatics that had every watching competitor applaud the two youngsters.

"They were up against some insanely great teams," said mother Julie.

"We honestly thought the best we could hope for would be top five so we are so very proud of them. They've worked so hard for this - I know I used to choke under pressure so I've no idea how they remained so cool."

Coach and father Mike was equally delighted with the win. "To win an international competition of this standard at the ages of nine and eleven is unbelievable," he added.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we think they would win."

2-Way Dynamic

1. Mini Maktoum (UAE) 157

2. HF Ravens (CZE) 152

3. Team Firefly (SIN) 142

At the end of the event, with suits and helmets put to one side, all of the competitors gathered for a glamorous prize-giving ceremony on the beach front at Dubai's Zero Gravity.

On hand to present the trophies and the substantial winners' cheques were Inflight Dubai CEO Carlos Euribe and Meet Director Freddie McDonald.

It is hoped that the event - which drew praise from competitors and officials - will become an annual affair on the world skydiving calendar.