posted Aug 13th, 2010 - The situation in Norway is almost exactly the same as in the United Kingdom this weekend. X3M4S Elements competed for Norway in the Open Class 4-way competition of the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010, Polaris represented Norway in the female 4-way category. This weekend, they will be ranked on the same leaderboard at the national championships.

The indirect competition between the two Norwegian teams was not as close as the UK 1-point race between Satori and Team Bodyflight. However, only four points separated X3M4S Elements and Polaris after eight rounds.

Norway's Open Class team was eliminated from the competition after Round 8, while the female lineup completed all ten rounds. The significantly smaller participation allowed all female teams to reach the semifinals (Top 10), while six of the eight teams were even eligible for the finals and Round 10.

World Meet 2010		Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Round7	Round8	Round9	Round10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	10,7,12	3,11,5	J,M,Q,P,L	19,1,13	N,18,20	K,17,8	2,15,H	4,D,6	O,E,9,G	22,B,16	Total	Avg
1	X3M4S Elements	14	11	30	14	13	15	13	16	-	-	126	15.8
2	Polaris	14	12	30	11	14	12	14	15	(22)	(15)	122	(15.9)

The eight rounds saw X3M4S Elements and Polaris locked into a tight competition with each other. The Open Class team won three rounds, the female lineup won three rounds, two rounds were tied. X3M4S Elements lost five points in the judging room, while Polaris gave away only two points. X3M4S Elements was up by four points after Round 8.

X3M4S Elements has a female team member, as well. Marianne S. Nordlund is flying the Tail slot. Members of both teams attended their first world meet. The competition in Menzelinsk was the first one for all X3M4S Elements members, and it was also the first meet this year where Norway's Open Class team completed more than two rounds.

The Polaris Tail, Sissel Maria Finnseth, was the world meet rookie in the other Norwegian lineup. Ellen Burchardt, Trude Sviggum and Kristine Willadsen had competed for Norway in the female 4-way category of the World Meet 2008 in France.

Norway's teams X3M4S Elements and Polaris at the World Meet 2010

The two Norwegian 4-way teams in Menzelinsk then joined forces to compete in 8-way, as well. The NSL News reported earlier that Derek Broughton replaced Sissel Maria Finnseth in 8-way, as she had trouble with a shoulder injury.

X3M4S Elements and Polaris have now separated again and will face each other in the same 4-way category at the national championships. The first scores will be posted later today.

There is another significant difference compared to the UK Nationals 2010. Both Norwegian national teams have to put up with the DeLand Norgies who celebrate once again their annual reunion this weekend. The previous national team, Arcteryx, eventually managed to beat the Norgies. This weekend will show whether the new national lineups can also leave the bronze medal winners of 1999, 2001 and 2003 behind, It might be too early for them...