posted Oct 30th, 2007 - The French delegation had a very successful showing at the FAI World Cup 2007. The 8-way team and the female 4-way line-up each won gold medals, and the 4-way team in the Open Class won the silver medals after a jump-off for gold with Belgium's national team, Hayabusa Defence.

The NSL News has kept the valued audience up-to-date with stories that covered the situation of Formation Skydiving competition in France and the country's national teams. The last story on October 17 provided the latest news of the two French female line-ups that compete for the status as the French national team next year.

France's national head coach and manager of the delegation, Jérôme David, kindly provides the NSL News with new information on a regular basis. This time, the NSL News asked him for an evaluation of the French teams' performances at the FAI World Cup 2007. Jérôme David answered to the NSL News questions.

NSL News: The French 8-way team won the gold medals at the world cup this year. Where you satisfied with the results?

Jérôme David: My main satisfaction was to see that the team is still very cohesive and united. They are now a mature group. I was also very happy about the integration of Erwan Pouliquen "inside" the team, as player and coach. Erwan has already been the coach since 2004.

NSL News: The 8-way scores in 2007 were not higher than the scores in 2006. How would you explain this?

Jérôme David: The team did only 30 training jumps in 2007 and changed Damien with Erwan. The team had also to deal with the Turbolet door. They did a very good jump just 30 minutes after the 4-way team was defeated. For me, that was the most important jump of the meet if we look toward Maubeuge 2008.

NSL News: The 4-way team performed on the same level as Belgium. Did you expect this?

Jérôme David: I've been impressed with the speed of the Russian team. They lost about 12 points and should not be very far from Airspeed in Maubeuge. I was satisfied with the clean flight of our team despite a couple of very bad exits. And I am happy for the Belgians who are good friends and deserved this good result after many years of work. Any team could have won or lost this meet. We are now in a real gamble where the judging process is fundamental.

NSL News: How difficult was it for the teams to do 4-way and 8-way at the same event in Russia? Did it affect the performance?

Jérôme David: I don't think this affected our performance. Sometimes, it is good to have an event were the pressure is a little lower. In Russia, the 8-way team was leading and the pressure was on the 4-way team. In Maubeuge, the pressure will probably be on the 8-way team, and the 4-way team will have to focus on 8-way. We were in Russia to learn how to run both events. And we have also the experience of 2002 and 2003. The real goal in 4-way is 2010.

NSL News: Your B-Teams competed in 4-way and 8-way at the USPA Nationals 2007. Was it a good vacation experience for them?

Jérôme David: They were very excited about this experience. All of the "B" team members are working for the gold medals in 8-way in 2010.

After Maubeuge, a big part of them will form the new 8-way team: Guillaume Bajolet, Julien Olek, Patrick Boulongne, Nicolas Allain, Arnaud Mille, Thomas Perrin, Charles Graveleau, Florian Thiebaut, Florian Denonfoux.

NSL News: Your new female line-up won gold medals in Russia. Are you satisfied with the results?

Jérôme David: I am very satisfied for Sandy Labattu and Cathy Gallet who accepted to come back to the team after the dissolution of the national team in May 2007, which was selected in January 2007. With Sophie Deremaux and Françoise Simons, who was the alternate for the team since 2004, they posted a great score after only 30 team jumps. I am 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 considering all the efforts they dedicated during their four team years. The gold medals in Russia were the first ones in a world meet for Sophie, Sandy, Cathy, Françoise, and also for France. Sophie and Françoise will try with their Blue team to qualify for Maubeuge in 2008.

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

NSL News: Is your plan for 2008 on track so far, or do you have to make adjustments?

Jérôme David: Everything is on the right track. I've got a very strong team of coaches, with Marin Ferre (4-way open team & 4-way team "Blue"), Erwan Pouliquen and Manu Sarrazin (8-way team & 4-way "B-Team"), Damien Sorlin (8-way "B-Team" & Detection), Martial Ferré and Sophie Deremaux (Detection), Bruno Perin, Clement Martin St Leon and Julien Degen (4-way "B-Teams"), Polo Grisoni (4-way team "White").

The French national team is a melting pot of many generations of world champions, with a very good spirit and a good complementarity. We will try to get one set of gold medals and two other teams on the podiums in Maubeuge. And we're still working on winning three sets of gold medals in 2010. Only the US team achieved this in 2004. It is a good challenge.