posted Aug 10th, 2014 - Another national team posted the last scores before the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014 last week. The Italian national 4-way team Ex3mo won the national championships with a 17.4 average.

Ex3mo battled for the last slot in the finals at the Mondial Dubai 2012 and ended up a few points behind Satori in 7th place. It required a 20-average to get into the finals two years ago, and a 19-average to make the first cut after Round 8. Ex3mo then easily made even the second cut with an 18.4 average at the World Cup 2013 in Banja Luka.

Joey Jones visited Italy for the national championships and provided some insights.

Italian Nationals 2014		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	12,G,21	D,7,3	B,J,N,H,C	M,13,A,6	Q,K,2,L	16,17,15	1,22,10	O,18,P,14	8,9,11	5,20,4	Total	Avg
1	Ex3mo 4	15	18	29	17	19	15	14	14	17	15	173	17.3
2	Energy Cumiana	14	17	26	14	17	11	12	14	14	13	152	15.2
3	Nytro Casale	10	16	29	14	17	13	11	14	14	10	148	14.8
4	610 Fano	8	15	25	13	16	10	12	13	13	12	137	13.7
5	Assouei Cremona	8	8	17	10	12	9	9	11	11	9	104	10.4

"Joey Jones reporting from the Italian Nationals in Fano. Last time I was here was 2008 getting ready for the world meet in Maubeuge with the Aussie team. What a difference a few years makes. I am really impressed with the work Livio Piccolo has done here."

"In 2008 it was just an open air tent and some dust. Now it is a lush tropical resort. Complete with covered packing and creeping areas, full service restaurant and bar and incredible pool area. Without a doubt one of the finest DZ's I have visited this year."

"This year's nationals consisted of 17 teams in three classes. The first day the two Pilatus Porters fired up at 8:30 am and flew non-stop until the evening, completing over 60 loads. With five rounds completed on the first day and another three rounds the 2nd day things were still close and many races still undecided."

"In the AAA Class, Ex3mo, lead by Marco Arrigo, had a solid hold on 1st place and finished with a 17.3 average. But the real story was the fight for second place. Team Nytro, lead by former Sinapsi member Luca Marchioro, was trailing Team Energy by one point after Round 8. I have been working with Energy all year, and we were enjoying the race and were happy with our final 15.2 average. "

"In the A Class, the medal positions were all but wrapped up, with Delta Casale winning with a 12.5 average and a 22-point lead over the 2nd place team C4 BFU. the bronze position wen to Zero Cumiana another 7 points back."

"Once again some of the best competition was in the Rookie Class. There were four teams within five points of the lead, and with one round to go it was still anyone's game. IL Muratore Salerno eventually won with a 13.3 average and by three points."