OmniSkore! coverage of the 2008 US Nationals.
Omnibits by Tim Wagner

Thursday, 23 October

0730
Good morning everyone, 8-way FS will be taking off shortly. CF Rotations are in progress, and yes I am working on the team photos. Let's see what's in the mail...

Why aren't all the 8-way team photos up on Omniskore yet? :) Thanks. Great job by the way!! Lovin it!!

I think I got all of them but 703 Skydance, but there are any others missing please let me know. I'm slow with team photos and blogging yesterday and today because I am also judging 8-way FS. Thank you for your patience!

Here's another:

Love reading the omnibits, as usual, though for the first time in 6 years, i'm not actually AT nationals, so you're my best source of news! Would love to hear your thoughts on adding an 8-way Advanced class. I know a proposal was submitted to the USPA for consideration, but it seems nothing came of it. Looking at the participation over the past few years, i can see a definite rise in the weekend teams that actually train...but with basically no chance at a medal in Open. Yes, it can be argued that medals aren't the true goal of competition, but come on, everyone would at least like to think they have a SHOT at standing on the podium! I think it's time for a class just like 4-way advanced, but for 8-way. Trust me, i know from personal experience it can be a bit frustrating to see the professionals throw together an untrained 8-way team and take a medal in open over teams who have trained together all year (but aren't necessarily pro).

I would say to write USPA and ask for it again. My personal opinion is that I don't think 8-way needs another class. If I have time I will write more about this later. UPDATE: A reader sends this in:

Interesting find while looking for something else - Goes to your reader's question: Minutes from the February USPA Board Meeting - Comp. Committee.

SECTION 5: FORMATION SKYDIVING. . . The request to add 8-way Advanced class was discussed. Currently we have two 8-way classes, open and intermediate. Approximately 10 teams competed in each class at last Nationals. We do not feel there are enough teams at this time to warrant three categories.

I think I would have to agree with the board on that one.

Another email:

Thanks for the fine reporting. I know you’re not a CRW guy, but it would be nice to see a little bit of CF stuff in the “Bits”. I know it’s not as glamorous as 4-way or 8-way, but lots of CRWDogs are out in the world rooting for our folks in AZ. Thanks again for the quick posting of scores and team photos.

Thank you, and I would LOVE to watch and write more about the Dawgs (I really love those guys and gals) but I just can't be in two places at once. I would welcome contributions! We're going to be working on the photos all day...grabbing the camera to try to get 703...

...okay, I got 703 team photo posted, and I think Jan is working on some streaming videos

1000
CREWing right along here with FS 8 and CF Rotations, I got all but 601 and 602 team photos, if you guys could come grab me we'll get them done...

A reader asks:

Have you considered making OmniBits available via RSS feed?

I will pass the suggestion on to Jan, I have no idea how to set one up. Now back to the judging booth for me...

1100
Round 8 is up and I can't wait to see what France and Airspeed do on it...the French have looked superb; very smooth, fast, excellent video, the whole package...

...an hour later, round 8 is done. Airspeed did not have a good jump and posted a 22; USA 8 busted a 23 to a 22, and France? A beautiful, spotless, on-the-freeze-frame 30, just short of tying the world record. I understand this is their last competition together. I have to say, they are right now the best 8-way team I have ever seen.

From the mail bag:

i can't wait congratulating the french 8 way team. What i m seeing about them through omniskore is just very good, very nice, awesome!!! I am french, know the value of US teams, but patriotism is there ;-) BRAVO LE 8 FRANCE - can you tell that to them ?

I don't speak French, so I can't tell them in person, but I will say very publicly here, as they post another fabulous 21 on round 9, congratulations FR Maubeuge ZC for their incredible performance at this USPA Nationals. Very well done indeed!

1545
We've had a glitch with the network in the judges' area so there has been a delay in posting scores. But judging is underway and round 10 of 8-way FS is done jumping...my oh my, that French 8-way team just closed out their round 10 with a 18, a great score for the draw. They finish with a 22.2 average, and they did it -- I'm pretty sure this time -- without a single penalty. What a performance. They finished 39 points in front of Airspeed, granted of course Airspeed did have much in the way of any training jumps, but Airspeed finished with a 18.3 average, which ranks right up with top previous winning averages...

...okay, an hour later, ignore what you're seeing on the 8-way Intermediate results page. We had to judge the 9th round as the 11th round because the Great and Powerful Omniskore system wouldn't cooperate on round 9. But the judging is done and the updated page will be up shortly...

1700
And we are done for the day, sorry I could not report more as I spent most of the day in the judging booth. Final 8-way FS results are posted and congratulations to the winners. Speaking of winners, I will to add this:

To the French 8-way, We wish to congratulate your team for one of the most outstanding competition performances we have ever seen. A 22.2 average over 10 rounds of 8-way without one single scoring penalty is a level of skydiving excellence that we may not see for a long time. You should be immensely proud of this achievement, which included superb video work and a style that made it very easy for the judges. Congratulations to France Maubeuge ZC! - OmniSkore and the 2008 USPA National Championships

A l'attention du 8 France, Nous tenons à vous féliciter pour l'une des plus impressionnante performance que nous n'ayons jamais vu. Cette moyenne de 22.2 points sur 10 manches, sans une seule faute, représente un niveau d'excellence dans le parachutisme que nous ne sommes pas prêts de revoir de si tôt. Vous pouvez être extrêmement fiers de vous et de cet accomplissement, incluant de superbes vidéos ainsi qu’un style propre et rapide rendant le travail des juges plus facile. Un grand bravo au 8 France Maubeuge ZC!

And hello to my French colleagues over at http://www.veloce.fr/VR/ !

Well, it looks like the major drama of the day was the battle between Perris Alpha and Paraclet Direct XP, with Perris Alpha taking the bronze medal by two points. There were a lot of really good teams competing in Open this year, and the Intermediate class had some fine teams as well. Tomorrow. Judges are currently working on AE and CF and I'll have a lot more photos up here tomorrow. Now where did Larry move that beer truck to...

...well I guess I'm going to sign off for the night, see you for 16-way and more tomorrow!

Send feedback to wazt2@yahoo.com


Note: All Omnibits commentary are the expressed opinions of the writer, not USPA or Skydive Arizona.