posted Jan 23rd, 2012 - The NSL News covered the Arizona Airspeed sweeps at USPA Nationals with the story on 21 January 2012. It is challenging enough to accomplish such a mission on a national level and in four different categories. How much more difficult would it be on an international level?

It was much easier in the first 15 years of modern Formation Skydiving history, which started in 1985 when the current dive pool system was applied for the first time. There were only two events, 4way and 8way, and chances were greater for a nation to win both sets of gold medals. The US delegation did it three times (1985, 1995, 1997).

The DeLand Air Bears (Guy Manos, Tom Piras, Joe Nepute, John Robbins, alternate Mike Raible) and the Coors 8way team (Irv Callahan, Terry Dean, Craig Fronk, Bruce Hofer, Kent Lane, Scott Meek, Mike Parnell, Danny Peters, Mike Sheerin, Dave Wilds) won both gold medals for the USA in 1985.

Mark Kirkby was also a part of this part of Formation Skydiving competition history, as he won the 4way gold medals with the original Arizona Airspeed lineup in 1995 and 1997. The Golden Knights accomplished their own mission in 8way, and the next two US sweeps were complete.

It became more challenging for a nation to sweep the World Meet when the female 4way category was added in 2001. Three different nations shared the three sets of medals in 2001 (USA, France, Russia) and in 2003 (Russia, France, United Kingdom) before the USA came back with vengeance in 2004 after not winning any gold medals in 2003. DeLand Majik (4way), Arizona Airspeed (8way) and Synchronicity (Women) combined for the first sweep at a 3-category meet.

It almost seemed to become impossible for a country to sweep a World Championship of Formation Skydiving after the VFS 4way event was added to the two traditional categories and the new female way competition, as the 3-category World Meet experienced a sweeping nation only once in 2004.

Part of the French Sweep in Menzelinsk 2010: Aerodyne Maubeuge in 8way and Aerodyne Aerokart in 4way Open

Nothing is impossible, and France did the 4-category World Meet Sweep right at the very first opportunity. VFS 4way was a part of the World Championship of Formation Skydiving for the first time in Menzelinsk 2010, and France won gold medals in 4way Open (Aerodyne Aerokart - Guillaume Bernier, Mathieu Bernier, Julien Degen , Jeremie Rollett, Olivier Henaff on camera), 4way Women (Aerodyne Deep Blue - Sophie Deremaux, Berangere Duplouy, Francoise Simons-Hamouchi, Amelie Tirman, Stephane Mistrot dit Pachet on camera), 8way (Aerodyne Maubeuge - Martial Ferre, Clement Martin St Leon, Arnaud Mille, Julien Olek, Thomas Perrin-Gachadoat, Erwan Pouliquen, Damien Sorlin, Mathieu Bernier, Sylvain Girault on camera) and VFS 4way (4Speed Paraclete - Cyril Colin, Raphael Coudray, Julien Guiho, Frederic Nenet, Yannick Poletti on camera).

It is very unlikely that any competitor will ever be able to sweep all four events at a World Meet, like Mark Kirkby and Craig Girard did in 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2008 at the USPA Nationals. In fact, it is impossible since the rules will not allow a male competitor to compete in the female category. Maximum result for an individual at a World Championship of Formation Skydiving were two gold medals in 4way and 8way, and only one competitor has achieved this so far: Mathieu Bernier in 2010.

There is actually more possible now with the new VFS 4way event. One individual competitor could theoretically win three gold medals at a World Championship of Formation Skydiving. Mathieu Bernier would have to learn the other dimensions and tricks of 4way flying and make it into the French national VFS 4way lineup...

It has worked the other way around between the genders in the past. Eliana Rodriguez is the only FS competitor in history who has won gold medals in three different categories. She was a Synchronicity member in 2001 and won an 8way gold medal with Arizona Airspeed in 2004. Then she added a gold medal in the 4way Open Class with Airspeed in 2008.

However, that all happened over a time period of eight years and is not a "sweep". France has to defend the 4-category sweep this year in Dubai, and Mathieu Bernier's three team mates will try to copy his masterpiece of 2010. Mark Kirkby will be there again, this time to fend off the French sweep - or to create a US sweep with Arizona Airspeed, Golden Knights in 8way and 4way Women and SDC Standard XP in VFS 4way.