posted May 11th, 2011 - The next connection between the NSL News history and current events comes with a story that was posted on the NSL website on 5 May 2000. The female category of 4-way competition was at the very beginnings at that time.

The World Championship of Formation Skydiving 1999 in Australia had included the first "Women's Cup" which was attended by four teams. Claire "Sparky" Scott, Sarah Laughton, Sacha Chilion and Kate Stepmens won the first competition with only female 4-way competitors for the United Kingdom, with Brian Vacher on camera.

Another "Women's Cup" was scheduled to be a part of the World Cup 2000 in Eloy. Five teams would compete at the second female event, including two teams from Russia, while additional four female competitors were in the field of the Open Class teams. The NSL News had a critical eye on the female 4-way category by then.

NSL News on 5 May 2000

The Southwest Skydiving League is reporting that almost 50% of the competitors at the second meet of the 2000 season were female.

Omniskore master and chief judge Ted Wagner was so excited about the great participation that he promised free Omniskore services at the SSL meets as soon as it goes up to 67%.

On the more serious side, the SSL meet is once again presenting the skydiving community with an example of how much male and female competitors enjoy jumping together in mixed teams and in the same competition classes.

The International Parachuting Commission (IPC) still seems to see this in a different light. IPC still pursues separate classes for male and female competitors. For the first time, the next World Championship will include a female 4-way category.

Several attempts were made in the past to run meets with a female category. The results were not convincing enough to prove that there is a need for separate classes. Four female teams participated at last year's test at the World Championship, which was held at the same time.

However, there is a great chance for the SSL teams to get the free Omniskore services soon, as there are more female competitors in the Southwest region who may decide to take Ted Wagner up on his offer at one of the next meets. Blue Skies - Go Compete

World Meet 2010		Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Round7	Round8	Round9	Round10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Women	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 Aerodyne Cypres	20	19	47	18	19	20	21	21	32	19	236	23.6
2	UK Team Bodyflight	16	17	44	17	17	19	18	19	30	19	216	21.6
3	USA Spaceland Blue	17	14	38	15	16	15	17	15	29	12	188	18.8
4	Germany ISB Air	16	15	39	13	13	15	16	14	28	11	180	18.0
5	Norway Polaris	14	12	30	11	14	12	14	15	22	15	159	15.9
6	Russia Prygalky	13	10	21	13	13	12	10	13	17	12	134	13.4
7	Sweden Women	9	7	20	9	11	8	11	11	16	-	102	11.3
8	China Women	9	9	17	5	6	6	11	8	15	-	86	9.6

The participation in the new event increased gradually over the years until 12 teams competed at the World Meet 2006 in Germany. Then the number of female teams went backwards, as it happened in all Formation Skydiving categories after 2006.

The scoring level did not follow the decreasing tendency, not at all. In fact, there has been very consistent progression on the top level of female 4-way competition ever since it was added to the Formation Skydiving disciplines.

The female teams also reduced the distance to the best male 4-way teams year by year until it seemed like they would eventually catch up all the way. Only the scores at the last World Meet 2010 in Menzelinsk brought this to a halt, probably a temporary one, as several female 4-way and 8-way competitios have been members of the best Open Class teams for many years. There does not seem to be a reason why a female team would not be able to get to the top male scoring level. The NSL News will follow up with an update of the current situation in the female 4-way category very soon.