posted Apr 30th, 2012 - In the recent years, the Formation Skydiving community has become used to the fact that teams from Portugal attend the major international meets on a regular basis. It was not always like that. There was in fact a long break after the World Meet 2001 in Spain until Portugal came back with a national team at the World Meet 2010 in Russia.

Jorge Grade and Luís Candeias, current Atmosfera G4 members, competed for Portugal before the long break and now again. They are the longest standing 4way competitors from Portugal and were already in the lineup of 1999 that finished in 21st place with a 7.9 average in Australia.

11 years later they posted a 14.8 average with Atmosfera G4 in Menzelinsk 2010 and recently a 16.1 average at the World Challenge 2012. Now they are preparing with their two other G4 team mates (Joao Henriques, Luis Mamao) to compete again at the World Meet 2012 in Dubai.

G4 member Luis Mamao told the NSL News that the Atmosfera project was launched in 2008 when the first G4 lineup was formed (Luis Candeias, Jorge Grade, Joao Henriques, Luis Mamao). Five years later the lineup is still exactly the same, only the video slot has been filled by different flyers (Jaime Faustino in 2008, Marta Black in 2009, Nuno Lobo in 2010 and 2011). Marta Black, team videographer of 2009, is currently the G4 alternate and also flies with other project lineups.

The World Challenge 2012 showed other changes in the Atmosfera G4 world, as well. The team members have eventually switched their slots for the first time. Goal is to learn more about other positions, and new Gary Smith can provide all the knowledge that the team is eager to collect.

G4 plans to run more national events in 2012 and complete up to 100 training jumps for the team at the same time. 20 hours of indoor training at Bodyflight Bedford will support the team plan before traveling to Dubai at the end of the 2012 season.

The G4 members had a lot of fun together with the team project, and also with the 4way community at the attended meets, as everybody knows who has been at the same place and at the same time with the Atmosfera G4 group. They soon decided to share their 4way passion with other skydivers in Portugal.

The Atmosfera goals included spreading information about Formation Skydiving competition to anyone who shows interest, helping to form new teams and supporting all existing teams. The G4 members had dedicated their project to develop Formation Skydiving competition in Portugal.

The efforts have shown results. This year, the Portuguese Skydiving Federation put the G4 members officially in charge to organize an event and provide coaching for the participants. There was also a small competition in Algarve this year where G4 competed and helped other 4way teams with coaching.

World Challenge 2012		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	D,Q,9,10	17,P,11	2,21,7	14,J,O,M	A,L,18,16	N,H,20,G	C,E,19,22	1,8,4	K,6,3	12,F,5	Total	Avg
25	Germany Usual Suspects	19	16	16	20	15	18	16	13	17	17	167	16.7
26	Ireland Fast Air	18	15	13	23	14	19	17	14	17	15	165	16.5
27	Russia A Team	20	15	15	25	15	18	11	15	15	15	164	16.4
28	Dubai Asaar Red	17	14	16	20	15	17	16	15	15	17	162	16.2
29	Portugal Atmosfera G4	19	15	17	24	8	19	18	12	13	16	161	16.1
29	Netherlands Creeps	20	18	12	21	14	17	16	11	16	16	161	16.1

The Atmosfera G4 project also included comprehensive indoor training from the very beginning. The first two teams from Portugal attended their first World Challenge in 2009 and haven't missed the annual event ever since.

Luis Mamao and Luis Candeias are in charge of the Atmosfera indoor program, while all team members help with indoor coaching. Luis Mamao said that over 100 Portuguese skydivers and new flyers have flown over 250 hours in Bedford within the Atmosfera program, as indoor training offers an easy way to teach and learn flying. The program also includes 4way coaching for teams in Portugal.

The tunnel camps can be a very busy time for the Atmosfera G4 members. Luis Mamao said that they usually work with the campers during the day at Bodyflight and then continue with team training at night. They take the pain, even though the project is not profit oriented. Main goal is to improve the quality level of skydiving and general participation in Portugal.

The last Atmosfera tunnel camp, the 28th one, was held before this year's World Challenge and accommodated 19 participants in February for 15 hours of flying time. Gary Smith was the head coach. Luis Mamao said that Bodyflight Bedford now almost feels like their second home... The second Atmosfera lineup, High5, was also in Bedford in February and competed at the World Challenge later.

The Atmosfera project had its second 4way lineup for the first time in 2009. Atmosfera Nutry was the first team from Portugal that won a prize and was on the stage at the World Challenge 2010. The G4 members were very proud of the accomplishment. Marta Black, Maria Maio, Jorge Félix and Nuno Gonçalves were in the Nutry lineup of 2010.

Atmosfera High5, this year's participant in the AA Class competition, was formed in 2009 and came to Bedford with Carla Costa filling in for Nuno Gonçalves this year.

World Challenge 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class	9,6	F,A,13	E,8,20	21,14	J,2,7	D,K,18	H,L,G,15	P,O,B,4	Q,19,1	22,M,N	Total	Avg
1	UK Hyrrokkin	19	18	13	11	17	16	11	20	14	16	155	15.5
2	Italy DNOUT	19	18	10	13	17	15	13	22	15	12	154	15.4
3	INT Airplay	12	14	13	12	15	14	17	15	15	13	140	14.0
4	Ireland Kinetix	15	15	12	10	11	13	16	17	11	14	134	13.4
5	UK Old Man Joel	14	17	9	9	15	14	13	18	12	11	132	13.2
6	Portugal Atmosfera High 5	15	15	12	11	13	10	14	16	12	13	131	13.1
7	Netherlands J Force	12	15	11	11	15	12	12	15	8	15	126	12.6
8	UK Foursome	15	11	10	10	13	11	12	14	11	13	120	12.0
9	UK Strange Slots	12	12	8	10	12	11	10	15	9	13	112	11.2
10	UK Incognito	13	14	10	9	10	7	12	14	9	11	109	10.9

Nuno Gonçalves was Luis Mamao's AFF student and has been a project member from the very beginning. Luis Mamao said that his former student now owns his own skydiving center and is an AFF instructor, tandem master. He also has his own 4way team with other former Atmosfera members (Jorge Félix - Atmosfera Nutry, André Pedro - Atmosfera Devils and João Albuquerque - Atmosfera 8way) and attends the national championships.

New High5 member Carla Costa is an experienced 4way competitor who has been on several teams, inluding the Atmosfera 8way lineup. She goes as far back in Portugal's 4way history as G4 member Jorge Grade, as she was filming his national lineup at the World Meet 1999 in Australia. By the way: G4 coach Gary Smith was also working with the team from Portugal in 1999. Another 1999 competitor, Mário Pardo, is now the owner of the skydiving center where Atmosfera G4 is training. High5's other three members are former G4 videographer and current alternate Marta Black, Maria Maio and Jorge Félix. The Atmosfera High5 members are also doing 8way together with G4 and have a lot of fun without training too much.

Luis Mamao already looks into the near future and said that Portugal will be back with at least two teams at the World Challenge 2013. Other than that, his team will continue with the project: "We give what we know to everyone who wants to learn 4way, with Atmosfera and Tunnel Coaching. Anyone that wants to be part of a team in Portugal - it's easy. No one has to stay on the ground or jump alone... Portugal is going through hard times, but we keep doing our best although we aren´t professional athletes."