posted Sep 8th, 2008 - The DFV Cup in Germany is the equivalent of the national championships and takes turns with the German Nationals year by year. The qualification for the next World Championship is a part of the German Nationals, while the DFV Cup is the top arena for the German teams to face off in the other years.

The German national teams that competed at the World Meet 2008 in France, FSC Eisenach and Chicas, are in the same situation back home as several other national teams that the NSL News has already covered after the conclusion of the world meet.

However, it is the first time now that any of the national teams that competed in Maubeuge seems to be in trouble at the national championship. Six rounds have been completed at the DFV Cup, and X-Ray Remscheid is giving FSC Eisenach a very hard time. Both teams are currently tied in first place.

The NSL News has covered the German national team FSC Eisenach several times on their way to the World Meet 2008, then introduced X-Ray Remscheid with the story on 29 April 2008.

The story mentioned that the X-Ray members didn't expect "...to get close to the performance and scoring level of the German national team, FSC Eisenach, this year. The reigning champion is better trained, and X-Ray has a limited program for the 2008 season."

The current situation looks obviously much more promising for X-Ray than the team thought back in April. The training and event schedule did not change much for FSC Remscheid's club team of many years. X-Ray trained a few more days with the first lineup (Kurt Gaebel in the Point slot) before the Nuggets Cup 2008 in July and then with the other X-Ray Point, Steffen Schiedek, right before the DFV Cup. The results of the X-Ray 2008 program are convincing so far.

The German national team FSC Eisenach is surely not on the same performance level as it used to be when the team focused primarily on 4-way. The team decided to compete in 4-way and 8-way this year and did not get much 4-way training at all. Switching back and forth between left-hand and right-hand door doesn't make it much easier, as well.

However, the left-hand door of the Twinotter must still feel like coming home for FSC Eisenach. The team had even decided at the Nuggets Cup in July to jump from the Twinotter, while all other national teams jumped from the Pilatus Porter before traveling to Maubeuge.

The German national team lost the unofficial title of the best amateur team in the world this year in France, which EADS had claimed with the 7th place and an 18.8 average at the World Meet 2006 in Germany. FSC Eisenach finished in 10th place with a 17.4 average this year.

The competition at the DFV Cup is far from over, and the faster rounds are still to come. FSC Eisenach won the Nuggets Cup over X-Ray Remscheid mostly by scoring well in the rounds with fast sequences. However, X-Ray has also great support this time.

Coach Gary Smith left Texel, competition site of the ESL Championship 2008, in a hurry to make it to Leutkirch in the southern part of Germany in time. He has already worked with the Chicas and X-Ray earlier this year and seems to be very successful with both of his teams at the DFV Cup so far.

The Chicas came home from France with a 16.0 average after six rounds. Once again, the young challenger from Leutkirch, Incognito, was eager to take on the national team in the female category. Incognito had given the Chicas already a hard time at the Nuggets Cup in July and lost only due to a meltdown in Round 4.

Incognito trained hard in August, completed over 120 training jumps and was ready to challenge the national team even more at the DFV Cup. Coach Peter "PG" Grossmann, X-Ray Remscheid's Tail, was hoping to beat the Chicas already this year. However, the Chicas are fending off the Incognito attack once again so far. The Chicas are eight points ahead after six rounds.

The situation between the two female lineups is still open though. As in the race between FSC Eisenach and X-Ray Remscheid, the faster rounds may bring a change. Incognito also likes faster sequences and may get closer to the Chicas, while FSC Eisenach may create some distance to X-Ray.

The first round on Tuesday morning is the first one with a faster sequence (N-14-D-J). The scores will show whether the leaderboard will change much throughout the remaining four rounds or not. Coach Gary Smith will surely prepare X-Ray Remscheid and the Chicas well for the upcoming task, while coach Peter Grossmann will try to fire up his Incognito lineup.