posted Dec 23rd, 2004 - Sharp observers of the recent NSL News noticed that the eligibility situation for Pete Allum with the Italian team Sinapsi PD and for Thomas Hughes as the videographer for the new team with Natasha Montgomery, Gary Smith, Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo is quite interesting. Allum and Hughes were team mates when they both competed with the British national 4-way team XL at the Mondial 2003 in France. The NSL News will soon follow up with more information and a closer look at the specific rules.

The NSL News stories of these international competitors coincide with a recent update of the international situation by the Chair of the IPC's (International Parachuting Commission) Formation Skydiving Committee, Fiona McEachern from Australia. The IPC members currently finalize their travel plans to Poland in Europe, where the next meeting will take place in Jachranka on January 26 - 30, 2005.

McEachern wrapped up the 2004 season with a report of the two international events this year, the Malevsky World Cup in Russia and the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Croatia. McEachern and the present committee members at both events gave credit to both hosts and mentioned issues that were brought to the attention of the committee at the competitors' meeting in Croatia.

The report also announced the official dates of the FS World Cup in 2005 (Eloy, October 21 - 29) and the World Meet in 2006 (Germany, August 5 - 11). The Malevsky Cup 2005 (Russia, July 3 - 8) might be officially sanctioned as an additional World Cup event, as well. The bidding process is on the way.

Finally, the report mentions that the IPC President, Patrice Girardin, has informed the committee that he would like the committee "to consider a change to the World Cup format we have now". His goal is to have a fixed number of teams in the World Cup and "make it easier for organisers to anticipate requirements". The IPC would then need to have a selection process for the final series, which may extend the number of participating teams in general. Girardin had already discussed his ideas with IPC committee members, German DSL President Dr. Rainer "Exi" Hoenle and NSL President Kurt Gaebel in Croatia. He is now waiting for the committee and the league organisers to develop a concept that offers a new structure for the "World Series".

The provided FS agenda for the IPC meeting in January in Poland includes several topics that will be relevant for the 4-way and 8-way competition. The current dive pool does not seem to await dramatic changes. Block 12 (Zipper - Star) will surely be modified or replaced, and Block 13 (Hammer - Hammer) might also be modified. Other changes are not suggested or expected at this point.

However, there is a dramatic change of the rules in discussion, which would have its impact on the entire scoring system. Following is the original text that McEachern provided to briefly explain the matter:

Another topic will clarify or improve the way the exact working time will be defined, measured and applied. This topic is a result of more advanced electronic scoring systems. The panel of judges needs to get on the same page when the teams are exiting the plane and when the working time gets to its end. Here is the original text of the topic:

The committee also investigates a proposal that would give the teams a "judging wild card". This new feature would offer teams the possibility of having one or more reviews by the judges per competition without recourse to the jury. Practical questions for the IPC committee are: One review only or more? Wild card review only to review own team, or also to review other teams? New judging panel or the same panel for the wild card review? Time frame for use of the option?

The status of the team videographer will once again be discussed. None of the Open Class teams at the world meet in Croatia had a videographer who was not a part of the delegation. However, many of the female teams still had a male videographer. Teams took two different positions at the competitors' meeting. One position claimed that the videographer was only considered as a recorder of performance. The other position defines the team videographer as an integral part of the team.

Last not least, the committee will once again look at the way the jumps are being viewed by the judges. The suggestion of using half speed for judging purposes has been on the table for many years and has always faced too much resistance, especially by the Omniskore staff, even though it is unquestioned that it would make judging much easier and better. Computer technology allows to use this feature, and the committee might be closer than ever to approve this change. The committee looks mainly at three options: no rule change at all; one view at full speed and one at half speed; one view at full speed and a set period of time during which each judge could view the jump as wished in full speed.

The IPC committee members appreciate feedback, which can be directed to each member. The contact information is posted at the IPC website. You can also discuss the FS topics of the upcoming IPC meeting at international section (World News) of the NSL Discussion Forum.