posted Jul 18th, 2007 - Last weekend's 4-way competition calendar also included the second event of the Coupe de France 2007. Unfortunately, a communication error did not allow the synchronization of the competition draw in France with the other events that took place within the NSL network.

However, the scores from France have now been posted, and the competition draw of the second Coupe de France event in Maubeuge was heavily loaded with blocks. The eight completed rounds in the AAA Class included 17 of the 22 blocks and only nine of the 16 random formations. Only the first round of the meet (7-K-E-P) allowed the teams to post higher scores.

The actual scores don't seem to tell any exciting stories. The names of the teams and line-ups still offer interesting background information.

Monaco Pujaut Aerial was the official winner of the competition in Maubeuge, even though three other teams posted significantly higher scores. The three teams on the top of the leaderboard are all sponsored by the French skydiving federation and were registered as guest teams only.

The NSL News had introduced Monaco Pujaut Aerial alreay with the story on May 18. The French 4-way veterans had already won the first meet of the Coupe de France 2007 and are now officially qualified to represent France at the ESL Championship 2007 in September in Spa, Belgium.

Didier Boignon, Jeff Ronzevalle, Laurent Hayot and Stephane Mattoni, with Claude Ferraro on camera, had to work hard for the first place this time. Blueshift Nice Annecy came much closer compared to the first meet on June 2, due to a 4-point loss of the Monaco team in Round 2 of last weekend's competition. Monaco Pujaut Aerial came back and was still only one point ahead going into Round 8 of the event.

The same line-up had already won last year's Coupe de France and competed at the ESL Championship 2006. Monaco Pujaut Aerial completed 60 training jumps in Pujaut/Avignon this year and had no wind tunnel practice. Monaco Pujaut Aerial is once again the strongest French 4-way team that is not a part of the French national selection system.

The first NSL News update from France this year was posted with the story on January 16. The NSL News story on February 1 followed up with more information of the French plans throughout 2010, provided by national coach Jerome David.

The story on February 1 included the names of the selected members for the three new B-teams of the French skydiving federation. These three new line-ups did not compete at the first meet of the Coupe de France 2007. Last weekend, the teams in the three top spots were the three new B-teams, and all selected members have now been assigned to their line-ups.

Reigning 8-way world champion Bruno Perin is the player coach for VR5 Espoir Maubeuge Perros and guides Nicolas Allain Coadic, Patrick Boulongne and Arnaud Mille, with Sylvain Girault on Camera.

Paul "Polo" Grisoni won the silver medals with Gap Nice Icarius Autrement at last year's World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Germany and then $10,000 at the Malevsky Cup 2006. He is the player coach for Nice Autrement Basik and had Charles Graveleau, Thomas Perrin-Gachadoat and Erwan Pouliquen in his line-up last weekend, with Fabrice Rieu on camera.

He was apparently missing one of his three selected members since his teammate of 2006, Erwan Pouliquen, was competing with this line-up in Maubeuge. Erwan Pouliquen was officially assigned as the player coach for the French 8-way team. He was only coaching the 8-way team last year and now fills an open slot in the line-up of the defending 8-way world champion.

Julien Degen took the player coach position in the third line-up, Jujunono Maubeuge CPN. He is actually a member of the new French national 4-way team that posted its first 2007 scores at the Valentine's Meet 2007. He had Florian Denonfoux and Florian Thiebaut in his line-up, with Thierry Simonnet on camera. Bruno Perin helped to complete this line-up in Maubeuge, as well.

The members of these three B-teams are supposed to form the new French 8-way line-up after the World Meet 2008. The internal competition was most exciting for the first place where VR5 Espoir Maubeuge Perros and Nice Autrement Basik finished tied in first place with 17.6 averages.

The current French national A-teams in 4-way, 4-way female and 8-way did not attend last weekend's competition. They are in the middle of the final preparations for the World Cup 2007, which is scheduled for the first week of August in Stupino, Russia. However, they will still compete at the French Nationals 2007 on July 28/29 before they travel to Russia.

The competition draw of the French Nationals 2007 and the Paraclete XP Money Meet 2007 in Raeford will most likely be synchronized and provide the foundation for a most exciting meet weekend. The best US teams have the Paraclete XP Money Meet on their event agenda, and the NSL News will be live on site in North Carolina.