posted Aug 31st, 2010 - The NSL News story on 21 August 2010 featured the first two rounds of the TOP 6 teams at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010. NSL-TV now follows up with the next two rounds of the same teams.

The new videos include the world record sequence of Round 3 in Menzelinsk. The jumps have been shown a few times on other occasions, the last time when the eight teams were featured, which all scored higher than the previous world record was for a single round.

A super fast sequence always has the potential to shake up the leaderboard significantly. However, this did not happen at the World Meet in Russia, and there is a very simple explanation for that. The top teams are well aware of the danger and the potential, and they are all very well prepared for a fast sequence.

World Meet 2010		Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Round7	Round8	Round9	Round10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	10,7,12	3,11,5	J,M,Q,P,L	19,1,13	N,18,20	K,17,8	2,15,H	4,D,6	O,E,9,G	22,B,16	Total	Avg
T1	France	21	22	56	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	119	29.8
T1	USA	22	21	53	23	-	-	-	-	-	-	119	29.8
T3	Belgium	21	21	55	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	117	29.3
T3	Russia	19	21	56	21	-	-	-	-	-	-	117	29.3
5	Canada	19	19	51	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	109	27.3
6	Italy	19	19	49	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	103	25.8

Especially Arizona Airspeed made no secret of the fact that the world champions of 2008 would improve the team skills in this area after the costly debacle at the World Challenge 2010. Airspeed did not win Round 3, but the 3-point loss was not too painful and kept the leaderboard pretty much in order.

Round 3 brought the new world record, as it was expected, which is now held by Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge and the Sky Panthers. As mentioned earlier, the French team actually completed 57 points within working time and had no marks on the scoresheet. It was still only a 56-pointer as the official score.

Most of the national teams in Menzelinsk used Round 3 to set new national records for a single round. It was a perfect opportunity to write national history. It will probably be a while until a faster sequence will be drawn again.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the TOP 6 at the World Meet in Menzelinsk

It was quite unusual that the top of the leaderboard was even tighter after four rounds than it was after two rounds, as the fast round was expected to spread the teams more across the board. Airspeed had a perfect comeback in Round 4 and won back the three points that the defending world champions had lost in Round 3.

This was an amazing feast since Round 4 had one of the slowest sequences of the competition. Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge had pulled away by three points in Round 3 and was now back in a tie with Airspeed. What a surprise. It became obvious at this point that Airspeed was ready to defend Excalibur with full strength.

The Sky Panthers had also made up a point on NMP-PCH Hayabusa and were now tied with the Belgian team in 3rd place. All TOP 4 teams were separated by only two points. What a race. Only Sinapsi fell behind in Round 4, mostly due to three point deductions. The medal positions were now out of sight, and the Italian team had difficulties to keep up with Canada's LeMay family team Evolution.