posted Dec 14th, 2015 - The Sun Path Products NSL News explained on December 5th how the results of the Clash of Champions 2015 changed the official SKYLEAGUE.COM World Indoor Team Rankings. The World Air Games 2015 generated new scores and had a similar impact on the World Outdoor Team Rankings.

The Top 4 positions did not change, and NMP PCH Hayabusa is still only in 2nd place after winning each 4-way competition that the Belgian world champions, now with Jeroen Nollet in the lineup, have attended since the Mondial 2012. Arizona Airspeed benefits from higher meet averages at two outdoor events this year, while Hayabusa competed at two different meets. However, at least the victories at the Wind Games 2015 and at the World Air Games put the Belgians practically in the world's 4-way top spot, even if Airspeed ends up in the top spot of the 2015 rankings.

SDC Rhythm XP finishes the 2015 season in 3rd place and will have a fresh start in 2016 with a new lineup. The Golden Knights are still in 4th place of all AAA Class teams, even though Black Cat outscored the US Army's team in 4-way Women in Dubai last week.

Rank	4-way Open - Top 10 December	Country	Averages	Best 3
1(1)	Arizona Airspeed	US	27.8 - 25.6 - 26.5	26.6(26.7)
2(2)	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	25.7 - 25.0 - 26.9	25.9(25.4)
3(3)	SDC Rhythm XP	US	24.5 - 23.6	24.1(24.1)
4(4)	Golden Knights	US	23.3 - 22.4 - 22.7	22.8(22.9)
5(7)	Black Cat	RU	21.8 - 21.9 - 21.3 - 23.4	22.4(21.7)
6(5)	Thunder ISR	BE	22.1	22.1(22.1)
7(6)	Carolina Turbo XP	US	22.0 - 21.7	21.9(21.9)
8(0)	Qatar Tigers	QA	21.4	21.4(21.4)
9(7)	France 4-way Open	FR	21.7 - 20.9	21.3(21.7)
9(10)	French FLY-IN Girls	FR	19.9 - 20.3 - 21.3 - 22.4	21.3(20.5)

Nothing is the same behind the Top 4 teams. The Russian world class performance moved Black Cat up from 7th to 5th place and brings Russia slowly and constantly back to the days of 4-way medal positions at world meets (Rijeka 2004 - Menzelinsk 2010).

Black Cat has a good opportunity next year, as France is not back yet in 4-way Open Class medal contention (9th) and 2014 bronze medalist Evolution finishes in 11th place this year with the new lineup. Black Cat would even be in 3rd place if only the national teams in the 4-way Open Class were ranked.

The Qatar Tigers are the other team that stirred up the Top 10 rankings after the World Air Games. The Tigers competed as a guest team after missing the World Meet 2014 in Prostejov. However, the SKYLEAGUE.COM World Team Rankings disregard the official eligibility rules and consider only the actual scores.

Rank	4-way Open - Top 10 October	Country	Averages	Best 3
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	27.8 - 25.6	26.7
2	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	25.7 - 25.0	25.4
3	SDC Rhythm XP	US	24.5 - 23.6	24.1
4	Golden Knights	US	23.3 - 22.4	22.9
5	Thunder ISR	BE	22.1	22.1
6	Carolina Turbo XP	US	22.0 - 21.7	21.9
7	Black Cat	RU	21.8 - 21.9 - 21.3	21.7
7	France 4-way Open	FR	21.7	21.7
9	Satori XL	UK	20.7	20.7
10	French FLY-IN Girls	FR	19.9 - 20.3 - 21.3	20.5

The combination of the 26.9 indoor average at the Clash of Champions and the 21.4 at the World Air Games rewarded the Tigers with Top 10 spots in indoor (10th) and outdoor (8th) rankings both. The world's best "amateur team", Thunder ISR, also finishes the 2016 season with two Top 10 positions (6th outdoor - 8th indoor).

The USA has four teams in the Top 10 outdoor rankings, which makes it clear who is currently the main 4-way powerhouse in the world. Carolina Turbo XP (7th) faces personnel changes though, as two members (Andrew Happick, Doug Barron) join forces with SDC Rhythm XP's front piece (JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz). Turbo's Top 10 finish might be in jeopardy next year.

Both French national 4-way teams are currently at the bottom of the 2015 outdoor rankings. However, these positions are at least misleading as of the French FLY-IN Girls, who are actually the most improved team since the October rankings. The Golden Knights are very much aware of that...