posted Sep 4th, 2009 - The 8-way competition did not have the grestest participation, as well. Only five teams traveled to Prostejov and finished their 10-round competition yesterday.

It was a building year for the 8-way world champions from France who won the competition in Prostejov easily.

The 17.3 average is not even close yet to the performance and scoring level of the French 8-way machine of the last four years.

However, the new lineup already shows in some of the jumps what the US team of 2010 will have to expect when it comes to the next showdown in Russia 2010.

Germany won the silver medals just as easily as France won the gold medals. Italy, the bronze medalist of 2008, does not have an 8-way team any longer, and the Russian team Crystal Contour was a combination of two 4-way teams that joined forces for the Russian Nationals 2009 and then the World Cup 2009.

Spain offered some resistance to Russia's team at the first half of the meet and was even one point ahead after Round 5. Then the well skilled Russian 4-way experts had warmed up enough in 8-way and distanced themselves by seven points from Spain.

The Russian 8-way competitors in Prostejov did not know yet what the future will bring for this lineup. Russia has a very strong 8-way history, and the Crystal Contour lineup surely has the potential to continue this tradition.

There is one whole year until Russia will host the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Menzelinsk, and no 8-way team is near the gold medal level of 2008 yet. The 17.3 average of the French 8-way team in Prostejov is still even behind Italy's 18.0 average after seven rounds in Maubeuge last year. Russia did not have an 8-way team competing at the last World Meet.

It seems as if the 8-way situation is wide open for next year's World Meet in Menzelinsk. France will probably get serious competition from any US team, as Arizona Airspeed, Golden Knights, Paraclete XP and Dallas Rogue prepare for a tough competition at the USPA Nationals 2009.

A strong Russian 8-way lineup could become a top contender with enough training from here on. The new 8-way silver medalist from Germany could also go for medals next year with enough training. Italy showed in 2008 that another nation could win 8-way medals with enough preparation. Time will tell whether Crystal Contour will continue or not.

By the way: the 4-way Open Class teams are still on a weather hold and a stand-by status.