posted Aug 10th, 2010 - The 4-way Open Class drama at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 between Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge and Arizona Airspeed could not be topped by any other event in Menzelinsk. However, the 8-way finish was not far behind at all as of thrill and drama.

The battle between Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge's 8-way lineup and the Golden Knights went just as much back and forth as it happened with the French and US 4-way teams throughout the meet. The Golden Knights were up by a point up after Round 7, and France won back the 1-point lead in Round 8.

Round 9 may have been the most important jump of the meet and the winner for France in hindsight. Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge won Round 9 by two points and put a big load of pressure on the US team. France now had a 3-point lead, and there was no indication that the Golden Knights might be able to win a round by three points or more.

Final 8-way Showdown in Menzelinsk: Russia, USA and France with Round 10

The US Army team still tried to make a little miracle happen. It would have taken a weak French round and a perfect US round to turn the 8-way meet around at this point in time. Round 10 had the slowest sequence of the 8-way competition, which made it even more difficult for the Golden Knights to fight back successfully.

France delivered a solid average performance and did not take any chances. The Golden Knights tried to pull the joker and give it all they had. Unfortunately, it back-fired and the US team ended up with an 11-pointer on the scoreboard, after three point deductions.

Russia lost one point in the last round and won a well deserved bronze medal, the second one for Vladimir Pavlenko, Oleg Shalamykhin and Sergej Shenin who also placed 3rd with the Sky Panthers in 4-way. The NSL News will follow up with more reviews of the meet.