posted Sep 16th, 2010 - The NSL News goes back to the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 while Arizona Airspeed collects additional USPA medals at the USPA Nationals 2010. The 16-way title is also going to Arizona, as it has in the past years since 2004.

Earlier follow up stories of the World Meet 2010 in Menzelinsk included the competition videos of the Top 6 teams in the Open Class, Rounds 1 and 2 on 21 August 2010, Rounds 3 and 4 on 31 August 2010. NSL-TV now continues with the videos of Rounds 5 and 6.

The new videos once again include those of the new French 4-way world champion, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge. Guillaume and Mathieu Bernier, Julien Degen, Jeremie Rollet, with videographer Olivier Henaff and coach Marin Ferre, still make for the only lineup that ever defeated Arizona Airspeed at an outdoor competition.

World Meet 2010 in Menzelinsk: TOP 6 teams with Rounds 5 and 6

The same French lineup, with a different videographer in previous years, had tried to beat Eliana Rodriguez, Craig Girard, Mark Kirkby, Andy Delk and Steve Nowak (Camera) several times in the same time period of Airspeed's 4-year team career.

The first attempt failed on Airspeed's home turf at the Valentine's Meet 2007 (222 - 212). The next opportunity came at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008, and Airspeed won again (252 - 247). Then both teams met again at the World Meet 2008 on French home turf in Maubeuge, and Airspeed won by one single point (195 - 194).

The duel continued at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2009, and Airspeed still kept the upper hand (229 - 226). This was the only direct confrontation for both teams during the 2009 season.

The world meet season of 2010 began with the Dubai Championship this time. France competed with coach and alternate Marin Ferre and could not keep up with Airspeed (186 - 169).

Valentine's Meet and FSL Shamrock Showdown followed, but Airspeed competed only at home in February, while Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge traveled to DeLand in March. Both teams then competed at the indoor competition of the World Challenge 2010 where Airspeed ended up in 5th place.

The indoor competition at Bodyflight Bedford was the first time that Airspeed lost a meet and that Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge ended up ahead of the reigning world champions of 2008 - after five previous attempts. However, it was an indoor competition, and the World Meet 2010 in Menzelinsk would be the real and final showdown.

World Meet 2010		Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Round7	Round8	Round9	Round10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	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
1	France	21	22	56	20	22	24	-	-	-	-	165	27.5
2	USA	22	21	53	23	20	24	-	-	-	-	163	27.2
3	Russia	19	21	56	21	19	21	-	-	-	-	157	26.2
4	Belgium	21	21	55	20	17	20	-	-	-	-	154	25.7
5	Canada	19	19	51	20	18	22	-	-	-	-	149	24.8
6	Italy	19	19	49	16	20	17	-	-	-	-	140	23.3

It was an interesting situation, as both teams knew that this would be the last competition for these lineups. The members of both teams will continue in one way or the other, however, they were in the same boat as of the relevance of the final meet.

Eventually, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge managed to accomplish what no other teams was able to in the four years of Airspeed 4-way dominance. It took a French performance from a different planet in Round 10 to finally defeat the defending world champions. A previous NSL-TV video had shown the extraordinary peak performance in Round 10.

France created a 2-point lead over Airspeed in Round 5 with the 22-pointer highscore. Airspeed had a 1-point deduction in Round 5 and had to work hard in the following rounds to eliminate this 2-point deficit. France did not blink in Round 6 and matched Airspeed's impressive 24-pointer.

Rounds 5 and 6 were also crucial in the race for the bronze medals between NMP-PCH Hayabusa and the Sky Panthers. Russia conquered the sole 3rd place for the first time and never gave it back from then on.