posted Nov 8th, 2012 - The international coverage of teams on the way to the Mondial 2012 in Dubai continues with live reports from DeLand, while the aftermath of the USPA Nationals 2012 is far from being complete.

Several national teams are visiting Skydive DeLand for the last training camp before the upcoming trip to Dubai, including the complete French freefall delegation in Formation Skydiving and Artistic Events. Aerodyne Aerokart (4way Open) and Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders (4way Women) are training alongside Team4speed (VFS 4way), and the French 8way lineup begins with a week of training when the 4way lineup is done this Saturday.

The Russian 8way team Sky Panthers Barkli is back in DeLand after the trip to Eloy and is probably cleaning up after the competition with the Golden Knights last week. The competition draw of the USPA Nationals is a very popular training tool this week.

Bardagi from Sweden, Bodyflight Voluntas from Denmark and Whooops from the Netherlands are even running a little training meet with the USPA sequences. Coaches Solly Williams (Voluntas), Shannon Pilcher (Bardagi) and Gary Smith (Whooops) have agreed on a handicap system that brings the teams closer together and puts on some pressure for the higher scoring teams.

Gary Smith is also coaching NMP-PCH Hayabusa at the same time who are in the middle of their second week of training. Of course, Hayabusa and the French teams are also using the USPA draw to compare their own current performance level with this year's undefeated outdoor top contender, Arizona Airspeed, and with the Golden Knights.

France, Belgium and USA will battle it out for the three sets of medals in the Open Class competition in Dubai, and the race seems to be wide open. The Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders have the first opportunity to check out the the performance and scoring level with new substitute point Sophie Deremaux compared to the Golden Knights. The jumps of the USPA draw by the medal contenders happen more behind closed doors, however, the NSL News will try to get some scores and footage.

USPA Nationals 2012

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

8way Open Class

3,6,5

2,D,14

C,P,B,M,11

22,9,A

L,4,G,13

E,F,8,10

7,N,1

18,O,K,J

H,Q,21,17

15,20,12

Total

Avg

USPA Nationals 2012

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

4way Open Class

3,B,K,H

F,7,22

O,4,D,13

A,M,11,8

N,P,G,19

L,20,1

5,16,J

6,21,12

18,17,10

E,C,Q,15

Total

Avg

French national manager Jeremie Rollett, still reigning 4way world champion of 2010, said that he brought the complete French delegation to DeLand for an opportunity to also develop the team spirit for the whole group. He also has his coaches Marin Ferre (4way), Philippe Schorno (VFS 4way) and Erwan Pouliquen (8way) in DeLand to work with the teams.

The combination of USPA Nationals at Skydive Arizona last week and this training period in DeLand brought together a total of 22 teams who will compete in Dubai in three weeks and who have learned more about what to expect at the World Meet by using the USPA competition draw. Eight national teams jumped the same 4way Open Class draw (Arizona Airspeed, Evolution, Dubai Asaar Red in Eloy - NMP-PCH Hayabusa, Aerodyne Aerokart, Bardagi, Bodyflight Voluntas, Whooops in DeLand).

Four teams did the same in the female 4way category (Golden Knights, Crimson Fox, Dubai Asaar Ladies in Eloy - Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders in DeLand) and seven teams in 8way (Golden Knights, Sky Panthers Barkli, Dubai Asaar, Qatar Falcons, Maximum Ride, M8Trix in Eloy - Aerodyne Maubeuge in DeLand).

Aerodyne Maubeuge have not started their 8way training camp yet but will most likely copy the draw, as well. The Qatar Falcons competed in USPA's Intermediate 8way category, which had different sequences than the Open Class.

In addition, VFS 4way teams Nexus and SDC Standard XP posted their scores in Eloy, and Team4speed will surely copy the draw in DeLand, as well. There is no doubt that other teams will also jump the USPA draw in the last training efforts. The mentioned teams are only the ones sharing the USPA Nationals and the recent training session in DeLand.

However, almost all top contenders for medals in the Formation Skydiving events are involved in those latest activities: Arizona Airspeed, NMP-PCH Hayabusa and Aerodyne Aerokart in 4way Open - Aerodyne Maubeuge, Golden Knights, Sky Panthers Barkli in 8way - Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders and Golden Knights in 4way Women - Dubai Nexus, SDC Standard XP, Team4speed in VFS 4way. Only Polaris from Norway may have missed out on the USPA sequences. The next competition draw will be the one in Dubai for the real showdown and for all teams. Counting the days...