posted Jun 12th, 2010 - This weekend's special 8-way showdown between the French national team, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge, and the US national team, the Golden Knights, has hardly begun, and it is already over.

Golden Knights team captain Brian "BK" Krause called the NSL News in the late afternoon with good and bad news at the same time. The bad news is the fact that the US Army team is not able to continue with the competition after the completion of two rounds.

The good news make up for that easily, as nobody is sick or injured. Brian Krause himself provided the reason for the withdrawal. His pregnant wife delivered the expected baby earlier than scheduled, and he is back on his way to North Carolina to take care of the precious 5-pound addition to the Krause family. Congratulations, BK.

Jun11th, 2010			Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Total	Avg
Rank	AAAClass		B,9,21	J,P,E,10	G,M,7,L	4,Q,14	22,6,19	5,3,16	Total	Avg
1	USA Golden Knights	News	18	21	-	-	-	-	39	19.5
2	France Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge8	News	18	17	19	19	17	20	110	18.3

The Road to Russia

The French - American 8-way showdown prior to the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 in Menzelinsk, Russia, was going well for the Golden Knights so far. France had already completed several rounds before the US Army team went up for the meet opener at Skydive Chicago. Bad weather had delayed the start in Ottawa, and the European teams are at least six hours ahead in time anyway.

However, the Golden Knights had a rough start, as Brian Krause commented, and then picked up the pace in Round 2. France lost four points in that round, and the Golden Knights won the 2-round competition by those four points.

The French national 8-way team does not seem to be back yet at the same level where the 2-time world champions of 2006 and 2008 were performing. However, this weekend's French 8-way scores are still promising for the new lineup.

World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010
Who will win the 8-way competition?	France USA Russia Others
	CurrentResults

The same new lineup had posted a 17.3 average at the World Cup 2009 in Prostejov, Czech Republic. This weekend's 18.3 average after the first six rounds obviously reflects a significant progression.

The French 8-way team still has to accept that the new US team has not only caught up, the Golden Knights may have taken the lead in the 8-way race for the gold medals in Russia. Two rounds don't really tell much of how both teams compare directly with each other at the moment, but it seems to be clear that there will be a tough battle for the gold medals this year. The new high-profile Russian 8-way lineup will probably join this race, as well.

The NSL News will go back to the 4-way competition later. Arizona Airspeed won the first round by a point, the French national team, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge, is up by two points after Round 2. It's a small field on a very high performance level at the Midway Meet.