posted Aug 13th, 2011 - The teams at the French Nationals 2011 have completed Round 8, and the meet is over. The two national B-Teams, Maubeuge NPC B1 and Maubeuge NPC B2, have switched their positions on the top of the leaderboard after a faster Round 7, and so have the two teams battling for the 3rd place, Monaco Rebootizer Aerial and Air Force Nice. Round 8 brought no changes.

In the meantime, the UK Nationals have started and register once again a new participation record. The 54 teams last year broke all UK records, and 55 teams this weekend in Hibaldstow make it even bigger. The United Kingdom has the USPA Nationals as a target and in sight as of team numbers, where 59 teams competed in 2010.

Three of the 55 UK teams competed at the World Cup 2011, including one of the expected top contenders at the national championships this year, SonicNutz.

World Cup 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Round 9	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Open Class	C,22,19	E,M,1,2	12,9,16	O,8,10	Q,14,5	P,17,K,18	21,L,J,13	3,11,B	20,G,H,4	Total	Avg
10	SonicNutz	11	16	16	12	15	16	16	16	16	134	14.9
14	Unagi	10	16	12	13	12	13	13	11	-	100	12.5
16	Escondido	12	15	10	11	12	12	12	9	-	93	11.6

All three teams had competed with each other two times before traveling to Germany, at the World Challenge 2011 and at the July meet of the United Kingdom Skydiving League. SonicNutz was out of reach for Escondido and Unagi at both events. However, both teams had a good battle throughout the three previous meets and continue this weekend.

Escondido won the indoor competition at Bodyflight Bedford (16.5 - 13.7) and also the July outdoor meet (14.7 - 12.3) which went only over three rounds. Unagi then turned it around at the World Cup in Saarlouis-Duren (12.5 - 11.6) and won the third UK duel. Unagi had a great 1-point battle with Atmosfera G4 from Portugal at the same time. Escondido now has a 1-point lead after Round 1.

SonicNutz had its own international battle with the two French national B-Teams and came out as the 1-point winner there. SonicNutz was the only UK team that made it into the semifinal Round 9 and finished in 10th place with a 14.9 average. The sequence of Round 10 was by far the fastest one of the competition and would have changed SonicNutz' meet average and the results of the other teams that did not make it to the final round.

The competition is even tougher this weekend at the UK Nationals 2011. Defending champion Satori will attend the team's first outdoor meet this year after finishing in 8th place with a 24.2 average at the World Challenge 2011. It will be a very big challenge for any UK team to get close to Satori, as the scores of the first round show. Satori won Round 1 with a 19-pointer. Vision, last year in 4th place, is now in 2nd place after a 17-pointer in the opening round.

SonicNutz lost three points in Round 1 after completing 18 points in time. The 15-pointer on the scoreboard places the team only tied with two other AAA Class teams in 4th place at the moment. Boogie Nights with player coach Katie Woods is in 3rd place with 16 points.

The NSL News will post and update the UK leaderboard over the weekend.