posted May 27th, 2015 - The end of the 2015 season will bring teams and competitors once again to Dubai, this time for an indoor/outdoor doubleheader, as the Sun Path Products NSL News reported on May 2nd.

The Dubai 4-way and 8-way delegation, headed by Craig Girard and Eliana Rodriguez since 2011, is usually traveling across the planet throughout the competition season before coming back to their home turf at Skydive Dubai (outdoor) and Inflight Dubai (indoor) for the last major event of the year, the Dubai International Parachuting Championship (DIPC).

This year, they will meet the visiting teams at home for two events, the Clash of Champions and the World Air Games.

The Dubai delegation has completed their opening part of the year by now. Dubai Asaar Gold attended Paraclete XP Indoor and Outdoor Championships and World Challenge, and Asaar Red made the trip to Bedford, as well. The Asaar Ladies competed in Raeford and DeLand.

World Challenge 2015

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

AAA Class

15,K,E,F

11,22,A

16,H,M,19

3,10,D

17,18,P

4,12,O

5,N,L,G

14,B,C,20

2,1,21

J,Q,6,13

Total

Avg

15

Dubai Asaar Gold

AE

21

18

22

17

17

16

20

17

17

22

187

18.7

World Challenge 2015

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

AA Class

6,H,1

22,9

P,D,E,K

18,Q,13

J,G,21

O,A,N,15

14,11

B,8,2

C,7,20

4,19

Total

Avg

2

Dubai Asaar Red

AE

16

14

22

14

17

18

13

17

16

15

162

16.2

Only the 8-way team has not competed this year so far, and Craig Girard wants to change that as soon as possible.

He has been focusing only on 8-way training in April and since the Dubai delegation came back from Bedford:

"It is so much fun. We have five new guys inside the 8-way, and the older guys are helping with coaching and jump at the same time. Some days, I am in, and other days it is 100% Emirati guys jumping."

He said that the current 8-way lineup is probably his favorite group that he has worked with so far:

"All of the new guys are so motivated and are really doing their homework."

The team is also not missing much time any longer due to illness and injury.

He said that he and Eliana Rodriguez are really enjoying this experience:

"We both believe this is going to be a great team for next year."

Craig Girard pointed out an example of the current progression. One 8-way team member, Ammar Al Nuaimi, who competed with AA Class silver medalist Dubai Asaar Red in Bedford, just made his 100th jump:

"He is now in slot for the 8-way team, together with his 4-way team mate Mohammed Falamarzi, who has 160 jumps. Both are doing amazing!"

He said that Asaar Gold members Ahmed Sharif and Ahmad Abdulla are performing in new center slots for the 8-way lineup, and he is just as impressed with their work, as well.

The next competition for the Dubai delegation is the Asiana Championship in China, which collides with the FAI World Cup in Teuge, Netherlands. Craig Girard hopes that his teams will be able to attend the FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving later this year.

The Grande Finale of the 2015 season comes for all Dubai teams at the Dubai doubleheader on home turf, and it includes 8-way competition for the new lineup at both events.