posted Oct 17th, 2007 - The NSL News recently covered the international situation in IPC's female 4-way category with the first story on October 9 and followed up on October 11. Both stories mainly commented the new British and US national teams.

The gold medal winner of the FAI World Cup 2007 in Russia was actually the French national team. Neither Great Britain nor the USA had sent a female line-up to Russia in August. The French team won the competition with a 17.1 average, which was discussed in both articles.

An earlier NSL News article at the beginning of the 2007 season (on February 1) provided details of the French plans until 2010. This article included the situation of the French 4-way team in the female category. National coach Jerome David had explained the line-ups, goals and training plans for the NSL News by then. Jerome now once again took the time to explain the current situation in France for the NSL News audience.

Things began this year as they were originally planned. The national team's only remaining 2006 member, Sophie Deremaux, began the 2007 training with Christele Askew, Manue Nicols and Françoise Simons-Hamouchi in the new line-up.

Françoise Simons-Hamouchi was the alternate for the French team in 2004 and 2005. She interrupted in 2006 to have a baby and was then again selected for the new 2007 line-up.

Manue Nicols and Christèle Askew were both selected for the new national team after a very good season with the French 4-way team Basik, which competed on a 15-point average at the competitions in France last year. This B-Team of the French project was guided by Paul "Polo" Grisoni who won the silver medals for France at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2006 in Germany.

The group dynamics of the new national team did not allow the expected progression, and this line-up was discontinued early this year. However, all four team members remained within the French national project and joined with two new members of other previous B-Teams.

The two new teams are called "Deep Blue" and "White and See". They are already in the race for the status as the French national 4-way team in the female category at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2008 in France.

Sophie Deremaux and Françoise Simons-Hamouchi have formed "Deep Blue", together with former B-Team members Berengere Duplouy and Amelie Tirman. Christophe Chekroun is filming this line-up.

"White and See" consists of Christèle Askew and Emmanuelle Nicols who were teamed up with Julie Levie and Isabelle Seel of another former B-Team. Thierry Simonnet is on camera for "White and See".

Jerome David said that the selection of the national team for the world meet on home turf next year will be quite simple: "Both teams will compete before Maubeuge 2008, and the winner will represent France in the female event."

None of the mentioned new teams actually won the gold medals at the FAI World Cup 2007. France sent last year's line-up to compete in Russia, with one personnel change. Francoise Simons-Hamouchi filled the slot for Severine Bocquet.

Jerome David was glad to see that the 2006 line-up was successful in Russia this year:

"I'm very satisfied for Sandy Labattu and Cathy Gallet who accepted to come back to the team after the dissolution of the new national team in May 2007. They did a great job after only 30 team jumps with Sophie Deremaux and Françoise Simons. I'm happy for this group that missed the gold medals in Gera 2006 and in Rijeka 2004.

My feeling was that this team had not been awarded enough for all the efforts they dedicated during these four years. The gold medals in Russia are the first ones in a world meet for Sophie, Sandy, Cathy, Françoise, and also for France. Sophie and Françoise will now try with their Blue team to qualify for Maubeuge 2008.

So, good luck to Sophie, Françoise, Berengere, Amelie, Christèle, Manue, Isabelle and Julie who will all compete with each other next year in their Blue and White compositions to qualify for Maubeuge 2008. The best team will be sent to the world meet."

It seems to be a challenging situation for France in the female 4-way category. Great Britain and USA are probably quite far ahead of the two new French line-ups. However, Jerome David is not too concerned at the moment. His main goal has always been the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 where he wants to win three sets of gold medals for France. A position on the podium is all he is asking for in 2008...