posted Aug 2nd, 2011 - It's time for the first 8way videos. The NSL News reported a perfect start for the Golden Knights earlier, and the on-line audience now has opportunity to see the excellent performance on NSL-TV.

France seemed to be hopelessly behind after one round when a 20-pointer appeared on the official scoreboard. It only seemed to be such a big difference for several reasons. The French camera did not capture one complete formation in the middle of the working time, and Stephane Mistrot Dit Pachet presented the footage of his second camera to the judges. The 20-pointer turned into a 21-pointer, which still seems to be a significant difference.

Even the 2-point difference is much less than it seems. The 22nd French point was only a fraction of a second away from completion, and the following free transition to the next formation was a quick one. The best two 8way teams in the world will hopefully give each other the race that everybody was looking forward to. The Golden Knights had the better start.

The Golden Knights compete only in 8way, and the French situation with all 4way members in the 8way lineup begins to show how big the challenge is. The French 8way lineup made only 70 training jumps this year, as team captain Clement Martin St. Leon said before going up for Round 1. He was concerned that the Golden Knights might be better prepared. The French national delegation was more focused on 4way this year, and the results show that the new lineup is up to speed. Clement Martin St. Leon said that the 8way lineup will pick up the speed next year.

Germany could not fix the point deduction in Round 1 and is two points behind Russia in 8way. Paratec-Saar also lost a point in 4way Open and had to give up the bronze medal position for now. It is still only a 1-point race with Sky Panthers Barkli in 4way.

The 8way teams will complete Round 2 before the meet will be over for today. The opening ceremony downtown Saarlouis is on the agenda, and all competition activities will stop early enough to get there in time.