posted Apr 12th, 2010 - The NSL News introduced the Atmosfera 4-way project in Portugal with the story on 4 March 2010. The story mentioned that two of the project teams, Atmosfera G4 and Atmosfera Nutry, would attend the World Challenge 2010. Both teams had already competed at the World Challenge 2009 and now came back to Bodyflight Bedford a year later.

However, other things happened already in Portugal after the story was posted and before the two teams showed up in Bedford. Portugal's national championship took place on March 13 - 14 in Évora. Jump plane was a Beech99, and the seven scheduled rounds were completed with perfect weather.

Claire "Sparky" Scott, reigning Bodyflight Storm 4-way world champion in the female category, was coaching Atmosfera G4 and also helped other teams during the competition. A total of five teams competed, and the three Atmosfera project teams took the first three places: G4 (12.7) - Nutry (7.3) - Devils (3.6).

Atmosfera G4 from Portugal at the World Challenge 2010

Atmosfera G4 also completed the team's second outdoor training camp before the World Challenge 2010 and made 40 jumps from a LET 410 in five days at Skydive Algarve under Sparky's supervision. Team speaker Luís Mamão reported that the exits were going well and that the team gained outdoor confidence for the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

The same training camp included a new unofficial highscore for a single round by a Portuguese team, as Luís Mamão added: "It´s not perfect for sure!!! But it´s the highest score ever done here. Thanks to Sparky and Sarah."

The video of the training jump with five Random Formations (M-E-B-O-F) can be viewed below.

Atmosfera G4 got the next opportunity for a sequence with only Random Formations very soon. Round 2 of the World Challenge 2010 had a more challenging sequence, and Portugal's AAA Class team in Bedford could not beat the outdoor 35-pointer. G4 completed 29 points in time and lost three points in the judging room for a 26-pointer on the scoreboard.

Both Portuguese teams did much better compared to the scores at the World Challenge 2009. G4 had posted a 21-pointer at last year's Round 4 with five Random Formations and had finished with a 14.6 average after nine rounds. This year's 17.5 average does not even include the score for the fast Round 9.

Atmosfera Nutry had finished in last place of the AA Class competition with a an 8.6 average at the World Challenge 2009. This year, Nutry posted a 13.8 average after the ten rounds in Bedford and was part of an exciting race for the 6th place in the same category.

Atmosfera Nutry from Portugal at the World Challenge 2010

Luís Mamão was hoping before the World Challenge 2010 that Atmosfera Nutry would show the improvements, and the "B-Team" lived up to his expectations.

He also said that the third project team, Atmosfera Devils, was facing the 22 Blocks of the complete dive pool for the first time at the national championship. The Devils have a great plan for the 2010 season, including indoor and outdoor training. They have already confirmed their attendance at the World Challenge 2011. The Atmosfera project will proudly present three teams from Portugal next year in Bedford, as Luís Mamão said: "Three teams - that's excellent for a small country like Portugal."

He also hopes for more 4-way teams and higher meet averages at the national championship in 2011. Portugal plans to join the NSL Network and apply the synchronized competition draw on the meet weekends. He also invites teams from other countries to visit Portugal for training and competition: "The weather in Portugal is good for skydiving. We already had a World Cup here in 2000, and it was a very successful event."