posted Jul 12th, 2014 - This weekend's synchronized competitions of the international NSL Network include the second meet of the Coupe de France in Maubeuge and the third meet of the United Kingdom Skydiving League in Langar.

The weather situation in the United Kingdom and France will not make it easier to run the meets, with 26 UK teams in Langar and 26 French teams in Maubeuge. A bad-weather front approaches Europe from the northern Atlantic, and the forecast for Maubeuge is not very promising for the weekend, while the teams in the United Kingdom seem to have a chance for a reasonable Saturday morning.

The French teams may have to wait until Monday, which is the third day of the Coupe de France competition this weekend, unless the weather situation improves during the weekend days. This is bad luck for the three French national teams in the traditional Formation Skydiving events (Volt'R - 4way, Venturi - 8way, French Girls - 4way Women) who are supposed to get their final competition test and a serious evaluation in Maubeuge.

Class	Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3	Rnd 4	Rnd 5	Rnd 6	Rnd 7	Rnd 8	Rnd 9	Rnd 10	Rnd 11
AAA	21,4,11	H,O,13,16	J,10,5	14,Q,19	12,15,3	C,9,B,17	M,22,8	1,7,D	L,6,20	K,E,F,18	A,N,G,P,2
AA	21,4	H,O,13	J,11,D	14,Q,19	15,2	C,9,B	M,22,8	1,7	L,6,20	K,E,F,18	A,N,G,P
A	21,4	H,O,B	J,D,A	Q,19	2,N	C,9	M,8	7,G	L,6	K,E,F	A,N,P
Rookie	M,G,L	H,O,B	J,D,A	Q,K,P	N,E,H	C,F,O	M,B,Q	G,J,C	L,D,O	K,E,F	A,N,P

This weekend's competition draw would be an almost perfect technical test for the French top teams in 4way. The ten rounds include 21 of the 22 blocks. Only Block 2 (Side Body Donut - Side Flaked Donut) is missing and comes in Round 11, together with the four missing random formations.

Four of the ten rounds have 6-point sequences, two of those include slot switchers. The fastest sequence of the draw in Round 6 (C,9,B,17) has one of the slot switchers.

Round 3 brings another slot switcher (J,10,5) in a 5-point sequence, while the 3-block sequence in Round 5 (12,15,3) brings the front piece partners back into their original slots at the end of each page. However, it is especially a tough start, with a 3-block sequence in Round 1, followed by a 6-point slot switcher for the front piece in Round 2 and memory for the rear piece in Round 3.

The Coupe de France test for the French national teams includes the 8way competition for Venturi. The French national 8way team competed at the Paraclete XP Indoor and Outdoor Championships at the beginning of the 2014 season.

Venturi had the Golden Knights as their sparring partner at Paraclete and in DeLand. This weekend, the strongest opponent of the five registered 8-way teams in Maubeuge is probably Monaco Vitalsea's 8-way lineup with the French 8-way champions of the later 80's and early 90's.

However, the French national teams will measure their current performance level according to their own standards and the expected medal level at the world meet. The difference to the training situation are the judges and the exposure of the latest scoring numbers to the public - in a real competition. The pressure is on...