posted Oct 5th, 2016 - The Sun Path Products NSL News went back yesterday to the 8-way competition at the FAI Mondial 2016 after uploading all ten competition rounds of the Golden Knights. The story also covered the overwhelming dominance of the U.S. Army team since the Mondial Dubai 2012.

The video coverage of the French national 8-way team was incomplete, as well, and the missing three rounds have now been added to the latest NSL-TV clip. The ten rounds of the Russian national 8-way team Tanay were posted earlier, and both videos offer a review of the competition for the silver medals in Ottawa.

The competition between France and Tanay was a little bit more interesting, compared to the solo performance for gold by the Golden Knights, as Tanay was at least within striking distance round by round, and was able to outscore France two times.

FAI Mondial 2016			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		12,A,16	18,15,O	1,F,E,C	17,B,14	10,2,20	21,11,G	J,5,19	L,M,K,7	D,8,4	3,13,Q	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	31	25	26(-1)	22	20	22	19	26	24	24(-1)	239	23.9
2	France	FR	22(-1)	20(-1)	25	18	16	19	17	23	19	20	199	19.9
3	Tanay	RU	23	19	25	17	14(-1)	16	16	21	20	19	190	19.0

In fact, France and Russia were still tied in 2nd place after Round 3 and before the eight former French 8-way world champions were warmed up and picked up the pace. They created the 9-point winning difference between Round 4 and Round 8 and then allowed Tanay again to keep up in the last two rounds.

France had no chance to get anywhere close to the Golden Knights, even not with the best lineup that France could put together in 8-way. The team was far from completing enough training before the Mondial to become a serious threat for the extremely well trained Golden Knights.

However, France was at least able to win back the silver medals from Russia after placing 3rd in a jump-off round with Barkli in Prostejov 2014.

It will be very difficult, probably impossible, for any other 8-way team in the world to catch up with the Golden Knights until the next World Championship of Formation Skydiving in 2018, even though the U.S. Army team will have personnel changes. France and Russia may have to battle once again for the silver medals.

The future of the French national 8-way team is very unclear at the moment, as more budget cuts may force national coach Mathieu Bernier to make some tough and difficult decisions.

On the other side, Russia's Tanay team is eager to continue with the same or a very similar lineup and more training. Tanay and Black Cat have to balance their training, as three Black Cat members (Valentin Ilin, Vasily Korotkov, Evgeny Stashchenko) train and compete in both events. A successful cooperation between both teams may bring back the 8-way silver medals to Russia in 2018, while Black Cat will continue with the pursuit of a medal position in 4-way...