posted Nov 15th, 2012 - The last training camp of the French delegation in DeLand overlaps for a few days with the Kaleidoscope Dives of SkyQuest Florida 2012. Both groups are not very lucky with the weather at the moment.

There was not much 8way training on Wednesday, and the first bigway activities of SkyQuest 2012 on Thursday have been only dirtdives and preparations on the ground so far. Aerodyne Maubeuge or any other teams have been looking at foggy skies, as well.

The French 8way team's bad luck began on Tuesday when a brandnew parachute was lost in the swamps after a cutaway. The French competitors did not give up on it and eventually equipped themselves with tools for the search crew that went to rescue the team parachute. Emmanuel "Manu" Sarrazin, 8way world champion of 2006, 2008 and 2010, provided the NSL News with video footage that features the French parachute hunters in action.

The video shows 8way videographer Stephane Mistrot Dit Pachet and 4way Tail Guillaume Bernier in the swamps. The French search crew was actually larger and also included 8way coach Erwan Pouliquen and 8way members Bruno Perin and Julien Olek.

The expedition was partially successful, as the rescue team found a student parachute in the swamps. However, the team parachute is still missing.

Aerodyne Maubeuge got back in the air later and provided video footage of a recent training jump in DeLand. The bad weather hasn't bothered the French competitors too much. Guillaume Bernier and Julien Olek also went fishing when there was time and brought quite some fresh catch back to the team house. The French competitors are even cooking and eating the fresh fish...

Team captain Clement Martin St. Leon, also three-time 8way world champion of 2006, 2008 and 2010, explained that his team is not really working on anything specific at this point in time. The training camp serves as a warmup event for the upcoming Mondial 2012. The French team seems to be ready for the battle with the Golden Knights and Sky Panthers Barkli.

In the meantime, his 8way team mate of Menzelinsk 2010, Martial Ferre, has also completed an update of the French 4way lineup, Aerodyne Aerokart. The video begins with recalling the event in Russia and features the last training camp in Gap, France.

Mathieu Bernier (Point), Guillaume Bernier (Tail) and Julien Degen (Center Outside) won the 4way gold medals in 2010, with Jeremie Rollett in the Center Inside slot and Olivier Henaff on camera. Emmanuel "Manu" Sarrazin took the Center Inside slot after Menzelinsk. Mathieu Bernier also won an 8way gold medal in 2010 at the same World Meet. The whole 4way lineup is now trying to win gold medals in both events.