posted Dec 6th, 2015 - The official schedule for the World Air Games 2015 has the first day of Formation Skydiving competition on Monday (WAG website) or Tuesday (FAI Bulletin).

It was a surprise when the first scores were available in the USA on Sunday morning. The teams in 4-way Open and 4-way Women completed two rounds on Sunday, and the Sun Path Products NSL News had to catch up after being caught by this surprise.

The scores speak for themselves. The first outdoor showdown between the new lineups of NMP PCH Hayabusa and Arizona Airspeed is as close as expected, and there seems to develop a good battle for the bronze medals in the 4-way Open Class. The first surprising result is showing the French FLY-IN Girls a point ahead of the Golden Knights in 4-way Women, while Canada's Fuzion lineup is keeping up with the strong British female 4-way competitors.

Chris Talbert is reporting for the Sun Path Products NSL News from Dubai. Many people know him only as the very social marketing expert of his company, who knows everything about the Javelin and other Sun Path Products and loves to visit events and hang out with his sponsored athletes and any skydivers. He has also been helping the live coverage of the Sun Path Products NSL News with expert commentary more and more frequently.

There is a good reason why he is so passionate about skydiving competition in particular and why his commentary is appreciated and popular. Chris Talbert himself is a former Golden Knights competitor and also won an 8-way gold medal at the World Meet in Croatia 2004. He knows what he is talking about...

His competition career began on camera for the Golden Knights. This is nothing unusual in the US Army's competition team. Larry Miller was first on camera in 4-way and 8-way before he got his slot in the active lineup and eventually won 8-way gold in 2012 and 2014. Drew Starr is the most current example.

World Air Games 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Women		B,C,17,2	N,19,4	13,14,F	6,E,O,L	7,1,A	D,18,P,22	M,H,5,15	16,9,12	21,K,G,Q	11,20,3	Total	Avg
1	French FLY-IN Girls	FR	25	22	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	47	23.5
2	Golden Knights	US	25	21	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	46	23.0
3	Parachute Montreal Fuzion	CA	16	19	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	35	17.5
3	NFTO	UK	18	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	35	17.5
5	Infra Red Band	RU	17	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	32	16.0
6	Dubai Asaar Ladies	AE	12	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	24	12.0

Chris Talbert moved in front of the camera in 1999 and won the USPA Nationals in 8-way after a 2-point battle with Arizona Airspeed in Sebastian. Airspeed took back the 8-way top spot in 2000, and the Golden Knights launched a 4-way project for the coming years. Chris Talbert was in this 4-way lineup, together with John Hoover, Eric Heinsheimer and Kurt Isenbarger.

This Golden Knights 4-way team started with a 2nd place in 2001, two points behind Airspeed Vertical. A year later, the same lineup won the USPA gold medals at Skydive Chicago by three points over Airspeed and six points over DeLand Majik, with Sean Capegreco on camera. Chris Talbert would travel to his first World Meet for the US delegation in 2003.

The Golden Knights won the silver medals in Gap, France, and then lost by two points to DeLand Majik in the re-match a few weeks later at the USPA Nationals 2003. Arizona Airspeed finished in 3rd place, one point behind the Golden Knights.

World Air Games 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		B,C,17,2	N,19,4	13,14,F	6,E,O,L	7,1,A	D,18,P,22	M,H,5,15	16,9,12	21,K,G,Q	11,20,3	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	29	27	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	56	28.0
2	NMP PCH Hayabusa	BE	29	26	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	55	27.5
3	Black Cat	RU	23	23	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	46	23.0
4	FLY-IN	FR	24	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	44	22.0
5	Qatar Tigers	QA	22	21	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	43	21.5
5	Evolution	CA	21	22	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	43	21.5
7	Dubai Asaar Black	AE	21	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	41	20.5
8	Rotor Out	AU	17	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	33	16.5
9	Ex3mo	IT	16	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	32	16.0
10	Vision 99	UK	18	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	30	15.0
11	AtomiX YUU	DE	14	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	26	13.0

Airspeed won the USPA 8-way competition in 2003 and needed an experienced 8-way competitor for the World Meet 2004 in Croatia. Craig Girard, Eliana Rodriguez, Neal Houston, Kirk Verner and Dennis Rook had to replace Mark Kirkby, John Eagle and Todd Hawkins. 2003 alternate Andy Honigbaum and Mike Inabinet joined Airspeed, Chris Talbert filled the 8th slot.

The new Airspeed 8-way lineup with Chris Talbert had to take on the reigning 8-way world champions from Russia and the strong French 8-way team with all the upcoming 8-way world champions of 2006 and 2008. Airspeed still won the 8-way gold medals, and Chris Talbert retired from Formation Skydiving competition at the peak of his active career.

He had a brief indoor comeback this year at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2015, as the Sun Path Products NSL News reported on March 2nd, and has supported the SKYLEAGUE.COM live event coverage at several events. The "Talbert Corner" will provide updates from Dubai in the coming days.