posted Oct 6th, 2024 - The event machine of Skydive Paraclete XP and Skydive Chicago at Crystal Coast Skydiving is running as smoothly as can be, and the weather continues to cooperate, as well. Four rounds in 4-way will be completed before noon, and the 8-way teams will probably get the whole afternoon for at least the same number of rounds.

The sunrise of Sunday morning followed the sunset at Fort Macon and offered teams and management the timely starting time at 7.30 am. The 12 teams in 4-way Open and five in 4-way Women had their starting order based on each nation's ranking at the previous world championship in Eloy 2022, which is usual practice at FAI/ISC events.

This order did not change much the one of the current power rankings. In fact, the leaderboard after Round 4 had the Top 4 in perfect order, and the four teams who were expected to battle for the 5th place and the unofficial world amateur title are lined up behind the Top 4. Norway's Agera made it back up with a clean Round 4 after early losses of five points in the first three rounds. Echochamber, who had just made it to the top position of the amateur teams in the power rankings, have a considerable lead over Airbus, who have Apex on their heels after Round 4. NMP PCH HayaBusa kept in touch with the Qatar Tigers throught Round 3 and lost ground in Round 4. The French Aethers managed to tie another score of Arizona Airspeed in Round 3.

FAI Outdoor World Championship 2024			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		14,G,13		J,C,17,12		D,A,21,P		18,B,H,F		E,L,O,8		22,2,K		6,7,16		9,20,15		3,M,N,4		5,1,10		19,11,Q		Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	24		27	-1	33		36		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		120	30.0
2	Aethers	FR	22		23	-4	33		32	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		110	27.5
3	Qatar Tigers	QA	21		20	-3	26	-2	32		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		99	24.8
4	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	19		21	-2	25		25		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		90	22.5
5	Echochamber	SE	17		21	-1	24	-2	26		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		88	22.0
6	Airbus Illertissen Oceanside	DE	17		19		21	-1	26		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		83	20.8
7	Apex	UK	15		18		21	-2	25		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		79	19.8
8	Agera	NO	14	-1	17	-2	18	-2	26		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		75	18.8
9	Out Of The Blue	NL	13	-1	17		22	-1	22	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		74	18.5
10	Papea	ES	14	-1	15	-2	23		20	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		72	18.0
11	Netunos	BR	11		15	-1	17	-1	18	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		61	15.3
11	Havoc	AU	13		13	-2	19	-1	16	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		61	15.3

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NSL TV Unfiltered: Round 1

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The U.S. Sweep in horizontal Formation Skydiving is tangible at this point in time. China's 4-way Women team showed their strength with the highscore in Round 3 and are still eight points behind XPG4. It seems as if the two horizontal 4-way events are under U.S. control, and it will not be different in 8-way.

Visiting USPA President Albert Berchtold joined Solly Williams for a conversation after opening ceremony and the first competition rounds, and he was much aware of the potential for a new U.S. Sweep.

At the same time, Jeana Billings is on her own way to copy Mathieu Bernier's unique accomplishment of double-gold in two different world championship events, even though it is not exactly a copy, as Mathieu Bernier won gold in 8-way and 4-way Open in Menzelinsk 2010, Jeana Billings may win in 8-way and 4-way Women. However, Jeana Billings is also heavily involved in the logistics of the meet management, and she may win a third gold medal for mastering the muli-task assignments. The 8-way assignment begins this afternoon, as soon as the last 4-way round of the day is completed. It will be a long day for Jeana Billings and the German double-duty competitors.

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NSL Live Talk: USPA President Albert Berchtold - Solly Williams

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