posted May 23rd, 2017 - The Russian Indoor Nationals 2017 did not only feature the dramatic 1-point battle between Black Cat and IFS Moscow. The Sun Path Products NSL News audience has probably noticed that there was a third team that won Round 7 and tied the highscore in Round 1.

Bubble Trouble has an all-female lineup and posted a meet average (23.5) that other Russian 4-way Women teams have only been dreaming of in the past.

In fact, the same 23.5 average would have won the bronze medals at the FAI Indoor World Cup 2016, not far away from the silver medal position. Bubble Trouble would instantly become a medal contender for this year's FAI Indoor World Meet in Canada if the team decided to compete for Russia later this year.

The performance level becomes less a surprise after a closer look at the lineup, which consists of four highly skilled and experienced competitors, headed by Alena Chistova who has competed for Russia in 4-way and 8-way Open Class national teams and has won her own FAI outdoor medals.

Russian Indoor Nationals 2017		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	18,17,M	16,11,G	10,19,A	F,8,J,4	3,20,N	2,P,C,12	21,6,D	9,14,5	E,7,22	K,O,15,H	Total	Avg
1	Black Cat	26	24	24	25	22	25	25	27	26	36	260	26.0
2	IFS-Moscow	25	23	23	25	23	25	25	31	29	30	259	25.9
3	Bubble Trouble	26	20	21	24	19	22	26	27	23	27	235	23.5
4	4-way Partners	21	19	18	23	16	21	22	27	24	27	218	21.8
5	Sky 45	20	20	14	18	15	19	21	28	21	27	203	20.3
6	No Limits	16	18	18	20	15	18	18	20	18	25	186	18.6
7	Altair	13	17	14	16	14	15	16	19	21	22	167	16.7
8	Two Capitals	11	7	8	11	11	11	11	10	12	14	106	10.6
9	Runway	7	7	9	9	8	10	11	10	9	12	92	9.2

She was coaching the Dubai Asaar Ladies after her competition career in Russia, and she even competed for the United Arab Emirates when open slots required it. She moved back to Russia when the Dubai team project was terminated and has continued with her team work at home.

Alena Chistova knows two of her Bubble Trouble team mates from an earlier team project. The Illusions, with Zhanna Kazakova and Tatiana Polyanskaya later in the lineup, trained and competed for two years in 2011 and 2012 and competed for Russia at the FAI Mondial 2012.

Zhanna Kazakova was also in the Prygalky lineup in Menzelinsk 2010. She continued with the Infra Red Band for a while after the Illusions, where she spent some time with Bubble Trouble member Olga Bykova.

Tatiana Polyanskaya has been training and competing for several years with her husband Sergey Polyansky for the XO Team and won bronze medals in 4-way Open at the Russian Nationals 2016 with a 17.1 outdoor average.

4-way Women medal winners at all FAI world meets since 2001

Tatiana Polyanskaya separated from her husband for the national indoor championships, and Sergey Polyansky tried to keep up with the Russian ladies with Tanay member and player coach Vladimir Pavlenko and the 4-way Partners. They finished in 4th place behind Bubble Trouble.

Alena Chistova is one of the few female 4-way competitors who competed at the first World Championship of Formation Skydiving in 4-way Women in 2001 and is still active. Russia finished in 5th place of ten teams. British team V-Max placed right ahead of Russia in 4th place, and two members are still active, as well.

Liz Matthews and Claire "Sparky" Scott train and compete with Volition, the British national 4-way indoor team, who will represent the United Kingdom at the FAI Indoor World Meet this year. Volition posted a 24.9 average at the World Challenge 2017 and is ahead again at this point in time. However, Alena Chistova, Liz Matthews and Claire Scott could have a re-match if Bubble Trouble signs up for the FAI event in Canada later this year.

Russia has won two sets of FAI bronze medals in 4-way Women so far, accomplished by the Ladybirds in 2004 and 2006. Bubble Trouble could collect some new medals for Russia, this time for indoor competition...