posted Jul 18th, 2024 - Tomorrow the meet will be continued with 8-way competition. With three blocks to be performed, Round 3 in 4-way was the slowest sequence of the meet so far. Airspeed and France used the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the underdog challengers. With this round, they made it very clear that no other team will be able to interfere with their private duel for the gold medal.

Airspeed had an excellent jump and added another point up over France. DeLand Norgies and Sebastian XL seem to be glued together on the scoreboard. After three rounds, they still have identical numbers for each round. This race for the bronze medal is just as exciting to follow as the race between Airspeed and France.

XL and Norgies have competed so many times with each other in the last two years, and both teams went through all ups and owns on their own time schedule. At the USPA Nationals 1999 the Norgies were still struggling with the penalty situation, while XL seemed to be ready for the world meet. Now, both teams are showing up at the world meet where they hoped and expected to be. And both teams' score sheets are looking very clean. It will be a long competition for them. They may have to go into overtime if it goes on like this.

Russia had exit problems with the Bipole of Block 14 and lost the 5th place to Australia. The home team is skydiving very well so far. The Russian 4-way team will have to come back very strongly if they still want to challenge for the bronze medal position. Let's see what Solly has to report about the current situation:

Solly Williams for the NSL News from Australia on 23 October 1999

We're into our third day of competition. The weather is cool and skies are blue. We were on a weather hold for four hours yesterday morning. Got going around lunch time and nearly completed three rounds in the 4-way Women's world cup where they are starting their Round 5 this morning. We are expecting to get to Round 5 today before changing back over to 8-way.

For those who haven't checked out the draw on Omiskore's website it's worth knowing that we have a very standard draw that won't be yielding any world record scores or averages. It's going to be a tight race to the finish in 4-way. The woman's 4-way competition was really close after Round 3. Two points are splitting 1st and 3rd with the NZ team slightly behind the pack.

The Swedes seemed to be finding their rhythm until luck turned on them in Round 4. The helmet lens of an Italian styled helmet popped up out the door and the end result was a bad score of five points, which included a double bust. That opened the door for the Aussie girls who are now five points ahead of the Swedes with the steady British girls three behind the Aussies. I still think the Swedish girls will get it back by the end of today. Having said that the Aussie and British girls are doing great.

FAI World Championship 1999			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open Top 4		9,24,A	O,M,2,Q	14,P,11	19,3,15	N,8,12	C,1,E,20	K,23,17	B,16,21	L,22,J,7	G,5,6	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	23	24	19	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	66	22.0
2	Maubeuge	FR	23	23	18	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	64	21.3
3	DeLand Norgies	NO	21	23	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60	20.0
3	Sebastian XL	UK	21	23	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60	20.0

4-way Open got off to a shaky start for most teams. There was a swing move or a non-repeater choice. Norgies where the only ones to take the swing in the Top 5. We had one blemish in the jump which cost us two points, and 22 was oh so close. Russia had a nice 22, XL a safe 21. France had a bad start to their jump that should have seen them bust from 23 to 21. Two judges gave them a non-judgeable while another bust them. Some how or another on the current system that doesn't warrant a bust???? Weird. Airspeed got off to a tentative start and tied the French with a 23. In Jack's own words: " It was rough".

Round 2 was a straight up. As expected all the teams came up with the goods. Norgies, XL and France scoring 23 while the Russians had exit problems (one point NJ) and scored a 20. Airspeed were five tenths ahead of the pack and completed the block to score 24. I need to get back to my teams, so that's it for now.

Last-minute release: Airspeed pulled away by one more point in Round 3 outscoring France 19 to 18. XL and Norgies tied again on 16. Russians funneled their exit and scored 13. They're not out the picture yet, as they look really fast once it's going.

NSL News on 24 October 1999

Sunday was a complete weather day in Australia. Only a couple of fun jumpers got in the air. The completion of Round 4 in 4-way still needs to be done before 8-way teams will be called to the plane again. This means that Airspeed may have to get in the air in both events on the same day for the first time.

It will be interesting to see how the pros from Arizona will deal with it. No doubt that they have practiced this already and will be prepared. For today, Solly only sends his greetings to everybody. But life goes on, even with bad weather in Australia.