posted Oct 28th, 2011 - The NSL News is transitioning to Arizona today where the USPA Nationals 2011 begin this weekend. There is just enough time to finish up the recent special NSL-TV feature of the slowest sequences with the lowest scores of the best 4way teams in the world. Then it will be time for the next competition draw, which might even bring a few new 3-block sequences to the attention of the NSL News audience.

The first part of the special feature covered most of the major events between 2002 and 2008 where the best teams began to finish 10-round meets with scores of only 20 points and higher. DeLand Majik started this in 2002, Arizona Airspeed brought it to the next 21-pointer level, and Aerodyne Aerokart arrived at the 22-pointer level this year at the World Cup 2011.

The second part covered the time period between 2009 and 2010 where Airspeed had a few more 20- and 21-pointer meets and France joined the club. The last part covers the events of the 2011 season before USPA Nationals and Dubai Championship will add two more competition draws and leaderboards.

Valentine's Meet 2011		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	18,N,9	20,6,5	11,O,7	15,13,P	21,L,D,C	G,F,M,K,4	A,3,22	10,19,H	14,2,B	1,E,17	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	25	23	27	23	30	36	23	21	21	21	250	25.0
2	Aerodyne Aerokart	26	19	26	21	27	35	24	19	18	19	234	23.4

Arizona Airspeed and Aerodyne Aerokart launched the 2011 season in Dubai, Airspeed with the 2010 lineup, France with Emanuel "Manu" Sarrazin as the new Center Inside. Then they both met again at the Valentine's Meet 2011, both with the lineups of the next two years. The new Airspeed lineup jumped right onto the 21-pointer level, while Aerodyne Aerokart scored below 20 points in four rounds. The only 3-point sequence in Round 2 (20,6,5) was not even Airspeed's lowest score. The last three rounds, each with only two blocks, were the slowest ones for both teams.

Shamrock Showdown 2011		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	N,H,3,1	J,4,C,13	7,17,19	B,20,15	12,22,M	F,18,2	E,16,9	G,8,21	P,A,11,14	10,Q,D,L	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	25	25	25	24	20	25	30	22	24	29	249	24.9
2	Aerodyne Aerokart	23	24	23	24	19	23	29	23	24	24	236	23.6
3	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	21	23	22	23	19	21	28	20	22	29	228	22.8

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Both teams also competed again at the Shamrock Showdown 2011 where NMP-PCH Hayabusa joined, together with other world class teams, to make it a mini world meet in March in DeLand. Once again, there was only one 3-block sequence, and it was an easy one (7,17,19) in Round 3. Six teams posted 20 points or higher.

Airspeed came closer to the 22-pointer level or even better. The 2-block/1-random sequence of Round 5 (12,22,M) with 20 points was in the way. Airspeed had only one 22-pointer, the rest was 24 and higher.

Aerodyne Aerokart scored significantly higher than in February, as well, The same sequence of Round 5 held France below 20 points. Other than that, the new lineup indicated at the Shamrock what to expect and what happened later in the season. The French team scored 23 or higher in the other nine rounds of the Shamrock Showdown.

Airspeed also competed at the Midway Battle and completed only seven rounds, with one 21-pointer (13,20,Q) in Round 2. The scores at Skydive Chicago were the last ones that the US top contender posted before the upcoming weekend in Eloy.

Aerodyne Aerokart and NMP-PCH Hayabusa continued their 2011 battle at the World Cup 2011 and were once again lucky with the competition draw. The only 3-block sequence in Round 3 (12,9,16) was no obstacle at all, and both teams posted 23-pointers. Hayabusa joined the 21-pointer club in Germany, with only France and Airspeed as the other two members.

France took full advantage of the draw and opened a new chapter with only 22-pointers and higher. Two 22-pointers and one 23-pointer were the lowest scores for Aerodyne Aerokart at the World Cup. It has been an impressive progression for the new lineup between February and August 2011.

World Cup 2011		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	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	N,F,A,7	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Aerokart	22	27	23	22	26	25	25	24	24	37	255	25.5
2	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	22	27	23	21	24	25	21	23	24	39	249	24.9

It has been a high-scoring season this year so far. However, it is a fact that the mentioned events with a total of 40 rounds, including the Midway Battle, included only a total of three 3-block sequences, and none of them was a real slow one. It seems like the 3-block sequences of the previous years were more challenging ones. The NSL News will put them together soon and compare.

The lowest scores were posted at the USPA Nationals 2010. The US teams visiting Skydive Arizona this weekend could be facing once again the most challenging competition draw of the year - or not. A draw is a draw, and it can bring any sequence at any time. The mother of slow sequences could be drawn in Eloy Saturday evening. No matter what kind of a draw, Airspeed will try to impress France and Belgium with new numbers.

Aerodyne Aerokart and NMP-PCH Hayabusa then have their own last opportunity of the 2011 season in Dubai. Airspeed will follow this event on the NSL News, and the audience knows why...