posted Jul 19th, 2006 - The scores of the Northwest Skydiving League's 2006 season opener are still missing, however, last weekend's almost complete leaderboard is already worth a closer look. The scores from Brazil were added this morning, and the first meet of the Virginia Parachute Council this year was weathered out and re-scheduled.

Brazil's national 4-way team, CTR Optimum, scored significantly lower compared to last year's results and this year's first event in May (12.8 average). Actually, the scores of the first three rounds were on pace, only the 9-pointer in round four does not seem to fit to the usual scoring level.

Team speaker Fábio Diniz explained what happened: "We had a problem with our Outside Center, Ziara Abud. She fractured her hand at the exit, and we didn't get to complete round four. We also had to abandon the competition after the accident and did not do rounds five and six."

Fábio Diniz added that his team members were sad when they could not continue and lost the competition with the closest Brazilian team.

However, he was glad that the injury is not severe, and the team expects its Outside Center to be fully recovered and ready for the World Meet 2006 in Germany.

The main bulk of teams that participated in last weekend's AAA/Open Class competition came obviously from France. The second event of the Coupe de France took place in Maubeuge and was even better attended than the first event in June. Once again, only the AAA Class teams are listed since the second competition class in France has a different dive pool.

As a matter of fact, each team that had attended the June meet was also present at last weekend's event in Maubeuge, and additional five teams made it a French 20-team field in the AAA Class.

The French national team in the female category, with Severine Bocquet, Sophie Deremaux, Catherine Gallet, Sophie Hinguant, Cedric Hourde and Sandy Labattu, used the easy opportunity to compete on home turf and completed eight more rounds in preparation for the World Meet 2006.

Last weekend's meet average was almost identical with the one in June (18.0 - 17.9) and confirmed the position as the top contender for the gold medals in Germany. Gillian Winter, French IPC Delegate and President of the French Sporting Commission, explained that "Maubeuge France Filles" was not eligible for medals of the Coupe de France.

The team will not compete at the French Nationals 2006 on July 29 - 30, which is too close to the World Meet in Germany. The same counts for the French 8-way team, which attended the June meet in France and left out last weekend's event, as well. Both line-ups have already been selected as the French national teams.

The French 4-way teams of FAI's Open Class can still and have to qualify at the French Nationals 2006 at the end of July. However, a quick look at the scores of the French AAA Class teams that participate in the Coupe de France makes it easy to understand why the close date to the World Meet might not hurt the winner of the French Nationals 2006 that much.

The former 4-way world champions of France Maubeuge with their new 2006 line-up have most likely already packed their bags for the trip to Germany. It is very unlikely that any of the recently active AAA Class teams in France will be able to give Davide Moy, Erwan Pouliquen, Julien Losantos and Paul "Polo" Grisoni a serious competition at all.

Two French teams have scored above 15.0 average this year, Noene Mandelieu at the June event (15.3) and Nice Basik Vigil (15.1) last weekend. Both teams can win the Coupe de France event series, but they will not be able to beat the world champion line-up on July 29 - 30.

Davide Moy, Erwan Pouliquen, Julien Losantos and Paul "Polo" Grisoni are expected to come back with at least a 20.0 average, no matter how fast or slow the competition draw may be. The official qualification at the French Nationals 2006 will only be a formality.

The slower part of the 2006 season will turn into a very intense summer season for the French national team in the Open FAI Class. After the French Nationals 2006 the team will have to travel to Germany within a few days. The first competition jump in Germany is scheduled seven days after the conclusion of the meet in France.

The French team is also registered for the Malevsky Cup 2006 in Russia. The end of the World Meet in Germany is almost the beginning of the competition in Russia. This squeezes three high-profile events into a 3-week package for the French team. The experienced French competitors can handle that, and how much more fun can it be?