posted Aug 12th, 2008 - The weather situation has once again deteriorated this morning. Meet Director Patrice Girardin tried to get all he could out of yesterday's many hours of jumpable weather conditions in Maubeuge, and he succeeded with it as four completed rounds in all three Formation Skydiving events show. Only the German 8-way team EADS still has to do Round 4.

It was not convenient for the 4-way competitors who had to wait all afternoon for possibly another jump at the end of the day. Patrice Girardin has to accommodate not only the 8-way event, as well, he is also in charge of getting all artistic events as far as possible.

His goal was to complete four rounds in 4-way followed by four rounds of 8-way, then go back to 4-way for another round. There was enough time to make it happen. Unfortunately, another weather hold in the afternoon finally made it impossible to complete another round of 4-way, and the teams had waited for nothing. It can be a long day at a big international competition...

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The NSL News discussed the weather situation with French national coach Jerome David the other day on NSL-TV.

He was not overly concerned after spending many years in Maubeuge. However, yesterday's situation gave an idea of the time pressure that may eventually occur - as it was in Germany 2006...

After today's rainy morning, and possibly more loss of time later on, all teams of all events may have to be on alert and on competition site all the time very soon. Patrice Girardin explained to the NSL News that he has to give any competitor only a break of 45 minutes after landing from a competition jump - either in 4-way or in 8-way.

The French and German 8-way competitors, plus Marco Arrigo with double duties could get under more pressure, and the chances are not too unlikely for that situation to happen.

The French 8-way team was very fortunate that the US team had a terrible start. They have a very comfortable 6-point lead after four rounds, which will make it easier to handle the potential time pressure.

The German EADS competitors with double duties in 4-way and Ex3mo's Marco Arrigo are in the same situation. This makes it a very special situation since they are both looking at the bronze medal position in 8-way. Germany has to be flawless and wait for mistakes by the well trained Italian team. Difficult to be flawless, and mistakes happen - under time pressure. It will be interesting to follow this 8-way race.

The current weather situation in Maubeuge brings more food for thoughts.

World Meets used to run over seven days until the IPC changed the duration of the competition to five days after the Mondial 2003 in Gap. Patrice Girardin was the Executive Manager in Gap 2003 and completed the meet slowly but flawlessly. The teams never got under pressure at any time. Some teams and competitors thought that it was even too slow, and the rules were changed later.

It is a fact that no World Championship of Formation Skydiving was completed after all ten or eleven rounds ever since, and it may happen again in Maubeuge with bad weather luck. The 8-way teams missed the last round in Croatia 2004, and the competition was close enough for any changes to happen in Round 10.

The World Meet 2006 in Germany was much worse as of the weather, and the 4-way teams completed only five rounds, while the 8-way teams finished after six rounds. The competition was tight in each event, and additional four/five rounds could have changed the whole picture.

On the other hand, the NSL News cannot find an incomplete World Meet of the past that was not completed after ten rounds when it was held over the duration of seven days. It could be a coincidence that the last three meets after the rule changes had weather problems. It could also be time to reconsider the logistics...

The skies over Maubeuge have opened up, but it is still very windy. Stay tuned.

18th FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships 2008
Who will win medals in 8-way?	France - Maubeuge USA - KnightTrax Italy - Ex3mo Germany - EADS United Kingdom - Connextion
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