posted May 3rd, 2010 - The NSL News has covered the unofficial "Scandinavian Championship" on a regular basis in the past years. The Pro Team won this unofficial title for Finland the first time in 2009.

Indoor and outdoor meets were both considered to find the best Scandinavian team of the year.

The Pro Team confirmed the unofficial Scandinavian championship title at the World Cup 2009 when Finland was the only country that was represented by a Scandinavian team in the final round of the competition.

Norway (Nexus) and Sweden (Evolution) both had their national teams in Prostejov, as well. Denmark's national team Voluntas did not compete at the World Cup 2009 and attended the USPA Nationals later last year.

The Road to Russia

The Pro Team started into the 2010 season with the same lineup and with the same achievement at the World Challenge 2010.

The team from Finland left all other teams from Scandinavia behind, this time including Denmark's national team Voluntas. Sweden was not represented in Bedford this year, while two new Swedish lineups prepare for a national 2010 battle.

The road to the position as the strongest Scandinavian 4-way team began for the Pro Team with a long lasting duel for the top spot in Finland. The Tigers defended the national title for years and still competed for Finland at the World Meet 2008 in France.

The change came last year when the Pro Team eventually defeated the Tigers at Finland's national championship. Winning the qualification as the national team was still only the next step in the team's current 3-year plan. Final goal was and still is a good showing at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

This year's scores at the World Challenge show the Pro Team progression in those three years most clearly. Laura Miettinen (Tail), Kimmo Pohjola (Center Outside), Outi Pohjola (Point) and Eiji Suvala (Center Inside) competed the third time at the World Challenge and posted a new indoor record average (17.6 - 19.5 - 23.2) this year.

The Pro Team begins to focus on the final goal of the 3-year plan now, the World Championship in Russia. Mikko Kajala (Camera), Juho Mikkola (Alternate) and young packer Kalle Pohjola are also a part of the 4-way delegation from Finland.

The preparations include one outdoor competition, the Finnish Nationals 2010 in July. The two outdoor training camps in Spain, two weeks in May and three weeks in June, plus another 1-week windtunnel camp at Bodyflight Bedford will get the Pro Team ready for the national championship and then the World Meet.

The Pro Team results at the World Challenge 2010 indicate that Finland's national team may also join another unofficial race within the competition in Russia. The Pro Team placed right behind Dynamic Fource and was only four points behind the Dutch national 4-way team after ten rounds.

Dynamic Fource is considered one of the top contenders for the unofficial amateur championship at the World Meet 2010. The Pro Team's training plans between now and the World Meet could move the team from Finland even closer to the top amateur level and the 20-average mark.

The Pro Team also uses the weekends for training at home. The last period of preparations takes place in Rovaniemi, the team's home town right at the Arctic Circle. Those preparations consist mainly of physical fitness tests and creeping for the first outdoor camp in Spain.