posted Aug 31st, 2006 - The valued NSL News audience has probably already detected that last weekend's scores on the front page were replaced step by step with new results. The 4-way competition of the Italian Nationals 2006 was completed today, and Italy's IPC Delegate Sara Sacchet directed the NSL attention to the latest event in Europe.

The NSL News story on August 29 mentioned that the 2006 season is far from over. Only the national teams are actually past their main event after the conclusion of the World Meet 2006 in Germany. Several national championships and other larger competitions were and are still to come.

Two Italian teams attended the World Meet 2006 and have now been busy again at the Italian Nationals 2006, Sinapsi PD in 4-way and Ex3mo in 8-way. The ten rounds of the 4-way competition are already complete, while the 8-way competition will begin tomorrow.

Sara Sacchet was a part of the Italian delegation in Germany, as well. She worked as the Chief Judge for the Formation Skydiving competition and was assisted by Pia Berggren from Sweden, Event Judge 4-way, and Tone Bergan from Norway, Event Judge 8-way.

The NSL News was already kindly supported with information from Italy by Sara Sacchet when the eligibilty of Sinapsi PD's member Pete Allum was comprehensively covered and discussed last year. Several articles and comments brought more light to the rules discussion.

The story had a happy end for all parties. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) finally re-wrote the rules for international eligibility. This clarified the situation in Pete Allum's case and does not leave any room any longer for false interpretation in the future.

Sinapsi PD could move forward with the team's new tail, Pete Allum had the chance to use his Italian residency for a new pursuit of a medal at the next World Meet, and the international 4-way community was grateful for the opportunity to straighten out things live at the competition site rather than by using the rule book.

Sinapsi PD did not really have any serious competition at the Italian Nationals 2006 this week. The actual showdown took place at the World Meet 2006 in Germany. Italy had won 4-way medals only once before with the third place in 1991, and Sinapsi PD was already very close again in 2003 and 2004.

The line-up of 2003 and 2004 with Marco Arrigo in Pete Allum's slot was only two points behind the bronze medal team, the DeLand Norgies, after nine rounds at the Mondial 2003 in France. Italy was cut before the final round and was not in the situation to compete for the bronze medals any longer.

It was even closer one year later in Croatia. This time, Sinapsi PD with Marco Arrigo made it to the final round ten and was only one point behind the Russian Sky Panthers before and after the last jump of the meet. The set of bronze medals went to Russia.

Sinapsi PD's new tail, Pete Allum, was already familiar with the same drama. In fact, he had been through the same situation even more often, and his new team had oberved his faith at the previous meets. Pete Allum, as a member of the British team XL, had battled with the DeLand Norgies for the bronze medals between 1999 and 2003.

Norway beat Great Britain by one single point in Australia 1999 (191 - 190) and defended the bronze medals two years later in Spain by seven points (206 - 199). The third and last duel between the same teams in France 2003 ended with the same result as in 1999: the DeLand Norgies took the bronze medals back home to Scandinavia after a 1-point horse race (206 - 205).

Both teams discontinued after the Mondial 2003, while Sinapsi PD had just begun with the pursuit of world meet medals. The Italian team also started a new duel with the 1-point loss in Croatia 2004. This time, the same battles would take place between Italy and Russia.

Pete Allum did not compete in Croatia 2004. Finally, at the end of 2004, Sinapsi PD and Pete Allum joined forces in the pursuit of the highest goals in Formation Skydiving competition. The 2005 season served for training purposes and to clean up the eligibility issues for the new line-up. The 2006 season was the final countdown to the biggest challenge.

The Italian team was expected to be one of the strongest contenders, not only for the previously missed bronze medals. Many observers saw Sinapsi PD even as the favorite for the gold medal position. The numbers supported these expectations. The consistent progression in 2005 (19.5 - 20.2 - 20.6) was followed by the impressive 23.9 average over ten rounds at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2006 in March.

Arianna de Benedetti (Center Outside), Luca Marchioro (Center Inside), Livio Piccolo (Point), Peter Allum (Tail) and Luca Poretti (Video) knew that it would be everything but a walk in the park at the World Meet 2006 in Germany. The team had trained hard and was well prepared for the challenge.

The 4-way drama of the World Meet 2006 in Germany was covered by the NSL News live from the competition site, and the outcome is well known. Sinapsi PD did not only win the new 1-point battle with the Russian team for the bronze medals. The Italian team was also only one single point behind France and the silver medals.

The 7-point distance to DeLand Fire in the gold medal position seems to be too much to raise any questions as of Italy's chances for gold. It is a fact that only five rounds were completed in Germany. However, The US team's performance was solid, and Sinapsi PD managed to win only one round over DeLand Fire.

It is quite interesting to compare the Italian 10-round results of the 2006 season (23.9 - 22.0 - 22.8) with the medal positions of the previous World Meet in Croatia 2004. DeLand Majik won with 22.7, and the French team placed second with a 21.9 average. Sinapsi PD's season average of 22.9 was barely enough to win the bronze medals in 2006.

However, fact is that the second set of bronze medals made it to Italy this year, and they came with a 1-point difference over Russia, just like in 1991 (146 - 145). The first place at the Italian Nationals 2006 qualifies Sinapsi PD once again as Italy's national 4-way team for 2007. The NSL News will try to follow up as soon as possible with Sinapsi PD's plans for the future.