TIDBITS (Timbits + Tedbits)

23 September

Send mail to Ted or to me (Ken) for messages for teams.

0850

Here we are again and the weather is overcast once again. If it's anything like yesterday, it will burn off in an hour or so when the sun gets a little higher. They are calling a CF load to the plane but I'm not sure whether it's for Sequential or for the last round of Rotations. There is also and accuracy load going up.

Thanks to Lilac for pointing out that we had the wrong totals for the 4-Way Open teams after round 9. The OmniSkore software only updates the totals when the round is complete and the chief judge had not marked the cut teams. It's taken care of now and you should see the correct scores.

1140

So much for my prediction of the weather. Nothing has changed and we're still under a layer of clouds. I guess that's why I live in Arizona where you don't have to worry about the weather ruining your plans. I've always wondered if being a weatherman in Arizona looks bad on your resume (yes, it will be sunny and warm again today).

"Fun Flag" update -- Neal "I forgot the Fun Flag" Houston is now Neal "I had the Fun Flag express delivered, received it last night, flew it up the pole this morning" Houston. That nickname was short lived because not less than an hour later the Fun Flag has gone missing. Apparently another team has decided to add their name to the Fun Flag's rich travel history.

1630

It's still looking pretty crappy weather-wise outside but the competitors are remaining upbeat. There is an American football game, some soccer (actually football over here), card games, napping and other general lounging going on.

The weather forecast for tomorrow calls for rain/wind, but I haven't seen a forecast for this area that remains valid for more than a matter of minutes. Either the weather around here is very hard to predict, or they just don't have the same concept of forecast that I do.

We've got the minimum rounds complete for all events, but lets hope it doesn't come to that. All jumps must be complete by tomorrow at 1300 for closing ceremony preparations.

1500

I had my e-mail address (Ken) on the top of this page listed wrong so if you tried to send me a message to pass on to your favorite team please try again.

The weather of the DZ is still cloudy, but we are seeing some promising holes on the horizon.

1515

Just like yesterday, the weather changes fast and we've got a 15 minute call for FS 8-Way teams from Japan and UK, and the German FS 4-Way Female team.

1530

 The first load is off the ground and this doesn't look like a sucker hole.

1605

The teams have landed and judging has begun for the first load.

1620

There has been 2 loads flown so far and the 3rd is in the air. Although there will be a 4-Way FS Female team on each load, judging won't take place until all teams have completed round 10.

 CF Sequential is in the air also for round 7.

1650

Six 8-Way teams have jumped, four have been judged. The others are coming soon. The weather is holding up. All is right with the world... At least this little part of it.

1730

In FS8,  Russia's jump is looking good but then they have a few problems on the fourth point and almost get busted for it. Even with the problems, they manage to put up a 19.

In CF Sequential, the US team looks good and they pick up another point on currently 2nd place France. They'll go into the final round with a 3 point lead.

1740

The organizer was optimistic about finishing the competition today and had planned to hold the awards ceremony here this evening. With the weather problems we've had today the awards were postponed until tomorrow, but somebody forgot to tell the baton girls.

1745

The weather has quickly taken a turn for the worse while the US and French 8-Way teams were in the air. They both elected to jump and the US team landed out. Not sure if the same is true for the French.

1750

All teams have been placed on standby. I think all the FS 4-Way Female teams have jumped.

I'm occasionally having problems saving our updates to the server. It always seems to happen just when the top teams are about to be scored. Are there really that many OmniFans out there hitting the refresh button?

1755

France FS 8-Way looks good, but cautious and they end up with an 18. It was so clean the judges only needed one take.

1800

Airspeed has a few problems early in the dive and then seem to go into caution mode also. They were almost busted on point 15 but end up with a 17 losing one point of their lead on France. So, it looks like we are headed to the final round with Russia in 3rd, 2 points behind France who is 3 points behind the US.

1815

I misspoke earlier about the 4-Way FS Female teams all being done. I thought they were sending up each team with two 8-Way teams but they stopped doing that after the first 6 teams and the top 4 teams are up now.

1820

There is a pretty dense cloud layer over the DZ. It doesn't look good from where I'm at but there appears to be plenty of altitude above the clouds and they are still jumping out there.

1825

The France CF Sequential team has just scored a 12 in the final round 8 putting the pressure on the US team.

They've again put all competitors on standby. I'm not sure if the Ladies jumped or not.

The US CF team is up now and they've scored a 12 or a 13. The judges can't make up their mind, but it doesn't matter. That gives them the gold medal in CF Sequential.

1835

The last load of FS 4-Way Female did jump although it looks absolutely awful over the DZ. I'm pretty sure they had to descend through the clouds under canopy. Yuck...

And judging has now began on round 10 for all the women.

1845

CF Sequential is finished. USA get the gold, France the silver, and Russia wins bronze.

1850

The French Ladies put up a 17 busted from a 19 on their final jump and the USA girls are up next....

Didn't have to wait long for that. The US shows the rest of the field just why they are in the lead posting an absolutely clean and fast 19. The judges only had to look at it once.

1920

It's offical! USA Women take the gold, France silver, and Russia the bronze.

Meanwhile, they've put out a couple of 4-Way teams in this crap covering the DZ. The teams must really want to jump because I don't think they would normally get out in these conditions. In my opinion, it looks worse to me now than earlier today. If they are jumping in the conditions we have now then we could have been jumping the whole day.

1930

Apparently, they've completed all the 4-Way Open teams. Belgium and Germany jumped earlier with the 8-Way teams and this last load that jumped through the muck had the top four teams on it.

1935

All the tapes are in an judging has taken place for all but France and USA.

France is up now and puts in a good-looking 24 points. USA up next...

4-Way Open is all done with USA matching France in the last round with 24.

1945

So in FS 4-Way Open it's Russia in 3rd for the bronze, France silver, and USA gold.

2000

This place has packed up fast and become a ghost town in a matter of minutes. We're going to head out also as soon as we finish updating the results on the Web.

Tomorrow there is just CF Rotations, and 8-Way FS to complete. See you then.

Ted Wagner, Chief Engineer | Tim Wagner, Webmaster