posted Feb 5th, 2011 - The first 8-way video features a USA vs. France re-match of the 8-way competition at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 in Menzelinsk, Russia, where the Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge lineup won the gold medals in an exciting race with the Golden Knights.

Well, it's not not really a serious re-match. The Golden Knights have the complete lineup at the Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving Championships 2011, with one exception. Larry Miller is not available, and 4-way and 8-way veteran John Hoover is filling his slot.

Both French teams (French Connection, Infinity 8) have only two of the French 8-way world champions in their lineups. Martial Ferre and Damien Sorlin brought a group of French skydivers to Paraclete for a windtunnel training camp. The 8-way indoor competition is concluding the camp.

Martial Ferre and Damien Sorlin cannot keep up with the Golden Knights performance this time. However, they are still watching the former 8-way rival very carefully. France has formed a new 8-way lineup, and the two reigning world champions will surely report at home what they see at Paraclete XP this weekend.

The NSL News will save the story of Martial Ferre and Damien Sorlin for a later time, as it is another interesting summary of recent international competition history. In fact, Golden Knight John Hoover and Martial Ferre go back to the World Meet 2003 in Gap, France, where they both competed in different events.

John Hoover tried to win the 4-way gold medals, which did not work out at that time. The other Ferre family competitor, Martial's brother Marin, won the 4-way gold medals in Gap. Martial Ferre tried to win in 8-way, together with his brother Marin. That also did not work well, Russia won gold and Airspeed silver. Marin Ferre was now coaching the French 4-way teams to the gold medals in 2010, and Martial Ferre won his second gold medal. John Hoover is posting great tunnel scores with the Golden Knights.