posted Oct 12th, 2015 - The next major international event is coming up soon, the 1st FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championships. Host is the Hurricane Factory in Prague, Czech Republic.

The International Parachuting Commission (IPC) of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI - World Air Sports Federation) had just assigned the skydiving center in Prostejov (Czech Republic) as the host for last year's World Championship of Formation Skydiving. FAI/IPC followed up by inviting their member federations once again to a world championship in the Czech Republic, this time in Prague.

It is the first indoor world championship that the International Parachuting Commission is sanctioning after the decision to get involved with indoor competition. The FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving 2014 at iFLY Austin was the first step of this FAI/IPC expansion.

Registered AAA Open: NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE), FLY-IN (FR), Black Cat (RU), Voodoo (UK), Gryttjom Volo (SE), Bad Boys (CZ), Qatar Tigers (QA), Asaar Black (AE), VAF Warriors (DK), Lupus (EE), Tigers (FI), Aladeen (HU), Magic 4 (LT)), Murphy Mania (NL), Jazz Republic (ZA), Sky Dragons (SI), HF Junior Zeleny, HF Junior Zluti

The Sun Path Products NSL News introduced the event with the update on May 13th. The field of teams in 4-way Formation Skydiving competition has been complete for a while, as registration is closed at this point in time.

A total of 18 teams have signed up for the 4-way Open Class competition, which includes the two Czech junior teams, who were supposed to have their own category. No other junior teams signed up for the event, so Zeleny and Zluti compete as guest or "demo" teams at the event. The Sun Path Products NSL News introduced both junior teams on August 25th and followed up on October 5th.

Most of the teams are also their countries' national outdoor teams and competed either at the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014 or/and at the FAI World Cup 2015, even though only a few countries have an official indoor qualification event yet.

Registered AAA Women: FLY-IN (FR), Golden Knights (US), Fly Like A Girl (UK), HF Chicks (CZ), Les Stunts (BE), Pumas (FI), Solarflakes (LT), No Mercy (PL), Vesce (SI)

Belgium (NMP-PCH Hayabusa), France (FLY-IN) and Russia (Black Cat) have their best 4-way teams and national champions at the first indoor world meet, and they will most likely win the three sets of new FAI medals. Voodoo is back in action with Vana Parker who has recovered from an ankle surgery. Steve Hamilton is the 4th Voodoo member at this meet.

The 4-way Women competition will feature the first direct confrontation between the Golden Knights and the French Girls, who compete as FLY-IN at the indoor competition. The US Army team is eager enough to make this duel finally happen that they accept a very challenging schedule.

The USPA Nationals 2015 begin right after the indoor competition, and the Golden Knights have barely enough time to make it back in time after the short trip to Europe. However, the first showdown with the French national team is more important than the national championships in Eloy, where the Golden Knights have no serious competition in the female 4-way category.

Registered AAA VFS: Tansfert (FR), Element (BE), Hurricane Factory (CZ), Omni (UK), Aerodisaster (IT), Blue Pelican (NO), FlyDefinition (PL), Flystation (RU), Vertigo (CH), Amudy (AE)

The French Girls have not even competed yet with the Golden Knights after winning the gold medals at the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014, and the new lineup has already changed again, as the Sun Path Products NSL News reported on October 1st.

Fly Like A Girl will compete for Great Britain in 4-way Women after the team's first appearance at the World Challenge 2015. Lynne Murray replaces Liz Matthews, and the British team will probably have to fend off the home tunnel defenders, HF Chicks, who recently posted a 21.2 average at the Czech national indoor championships.

Five of the six teams who attended the FAI World Cup 2015 in 4-way VFS are also competing in Prague. The French gold medal winners in Teuge are probably once again the top favorite in Prague, as well.