posted Aug 17th, 2009 - The FAI World Cup 2009 is the next major 4-way event coming up in two weeks and brings together the best 4-way teams in the world, except any teams from the USA. The NSL News goes back to the German Nationals 2009 where the German national team FSC Eisenach-Paratec jumped up above the 20-average and into the top level of 4-way competition with a 20.8 average after ten rounds.

Eisenach's videographer Alexander "Dude" Hau provided the NSL News with an uploaded high-definition video of the 33-pointer in Round 5, which now stands as the new German 4-way record for a single round. The same Eisenach lineup competed already at the World Cup of Formation Skydiving in Russia 2007 where the team made it into the finals and finished in 7th place with a 19.7 average.

In fact, only four national teams of 2007 (Hayabusa Defence, France Maubeuge, Sky Panthers and Arcteryx) placed in front of the German team, which is supported by the German manufacturer Paratec. FSC Eisenach-Paratec stands a good chance to improve the international ranking with a similar performance at the upcoming World Cup.

Formation Skydiving competition, and especially the 4-way event, is the main ingredient of the FAI World Cup 2009, as it has always been at World Championships and World Cups in the past. However, the international competition still includes other skydiving events, as well. This year's World Cup in Prostejov, Czech Republic, hosts also the artistic events (Freestyle and Freeflying), plus a Vertical Formation Skydiving competition.

26 teams were already registered for the 4-way competition a few months ago. Freestyle had the second highest registration with 13 teams by then, Freeflying was next with ten teams. Germany did not have a registered Freestyle team by then, as the German Nationals 2009 would be the official qualifyer. Several additional teams in all events have been registered in the meantime, including a German Freestyle team that qualified for the World Cup in a special way.

Klaus Mathies, President of the FSC Remscheid skydiving club, which has supported the bronze medalist at this years's German Nationals, X-Ray Remscheid, and several other 4-way and 8-way lineups in the past, was able to add his club's Freestyle team to the list of teams at the World Cup 2009.

Sonny Jung and her videographer Sven Zimmermann had trained a lot to prepare for the German Nationals 2009. Unfortunately, the number of only four registered Freestyle teams was not enough to qualify the event for this year's national championships. Club President Klaus Mathies did not give up, as he wanted to help his team to compete at the World Cup 2009.

Eventually, the German skydiving federation, with national coach for Freestyle, Andrea Spielvogel, agreed to set up a separate qualification event for Sonny Jung and Sven Zimmermann. The Freeflying team had to show up at a skydiving center in southern Germany (Schlierstadt) and would be tested and evaluated by an international judge (Dr. Florian Ebner) and the national Freeflying coach on site.

Three competition jumps were enough to convince judge and national coach that Sonny Jung and Sven Zimmermann were skilled enough to compete and represent Germany at the upcoming international competition in Prostejov.

Sonny Jung and Sven Zimmermann have ambitious plans. Sonny Jung was a very successful Taekwondo competitor before she started skydiving. She was a member of the German national team for 13 years and competed at several international top events, including world championships and Olympic Games (1988, 1992).

She is now a passionate skydiving competitor and brings her athletic skills and competition experiences into her new sport. Sonny Jung and Sven Zimmermann quickly scheduled new training camps after learning that they will be eligible to compete at the World Cup 2009.

The training jumps will be made at GoJump in Berlin-Gransee where former Freestyle world champion Nils Predstrup assists them to get ready for the World Cup.

X-Ray Remscheid member Mike Vetter is running the skydiving operation in Berlin-Gransee and knows from his own experiences what competitive teams are looking for. A Norwegian 4-way team with Arcteryx member Ditta Valsdottir is already visiting this week to take advantage of the team-friendly facilities and services.

GoJump is lifting 4-way teams to jump altitude even if no other jumpers are in the plane. Mike Vetter plans to set up a sophisticated European training center in the long term. His current team rate is 90 Euro for a 4-way team jump. The GoJump skydiving center is located less than an hour driving distance north of Berlin.