posted Jul 22nd, 2010 - The NSL News reported on 14 May 2010 that a challenging schedule was waiting for the Belgian national 4-way team Hayabusa NMP-PCH during the final stage of the Road to Russia and the upcoming World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

Hayabusa has the military commitment with the Belgian army, which has created the current situation.

The team has to represent Belgium at the military CISM Championships (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) and defend the gold medals of 2007, 2008 and 2009.

This year's competition takes place in Switzerland, and the event is in full swing. Hayabusa has no serious competition and leads by 40 points after six rounds.

The scores of the six of eight rounds (36 - 34 - 32 - 32 - 45 - 31) include a 45-pointer in Round 5, which improves Hayabusa's own military world record by four points.

The Road to Russia

The Hayabusa scores in Switzerland are outstanding, but the timing of the event puts pressure on the Belgian national team.

The rules for the CISM competition are different, as the dive pool is much easier and each sequence begins with a Star. Exit and subterminal maneuvers are not really a part of the competition.

Even the sequence of the 45-pointer (M - F - Cat - Block 7) is not one that matches the IPC rules for the World Meet.

The first formation of Block 15 (Caterpillar) appears as a random formation in the sequence. In addition, the right-hand door of the Pilatus Porter in Switzerland is as different as it can get compared to the left-hand door of the LET in Menzelinsk, Russia.

If that doesn't explain the challenges for the Belgian top contender well enough, a closer look at the schedule of the event shows more difficulties. Hayabusa has to stay in Switzerland until the end of the award ceremony on Saturday evening (July 24).

The first round of the World Meet in Menzelinsk is scheduled for August 1. Most of the teams that will compete in Russia can use the last two weeks for some training jumps, the actual travel and to familiarize with the meet environment. Hayabusa will have to deal with logistics and hurry to Russia.

However, there are highlights that the Belgians can focus on and which may even provide additional momentum and motivation. Hayabusa seems to be in great shape, as the video shows, and the 45-pointer has its own meaning.

The jump in Switzerland did not require exit and subterminal work, and the sequence begins with the famous Star, followed by two other random formations.

Each CISM sequence still includes a block, and this one had Block 7 (Side Buddies - Side Buddies) at the end.

All IPC world records of the past, including Spaceland Force's current 45-pointer, were scored for sequences of five random formations. Hayabusa's 45-pointer sequence includes the whole block move of Block 7.

Hayabusa had to complete this block nine times to get to 45 points. The Belgian team will probably be ready to challenge Arizona Airspeed and France Cypres Maubeuge for the gold medals.