   |
 |
|
|
||
|
Gap 2003: Mining
in the French Alps
A USPA staff report The U.S. Parachute Team joined 30 countries in the southern French Alps at the Gap/Tallard aerodrome for the World Parachuting Championships September 6-13. The entire meet was flown from single-engine, 11-place PC-6 Pilatus Porters. The men's teams from Slovenia, Russia and the Czech Republic took the overall style & accuracy medals in that order. The U.S. women's style & accuracy team finished behind Russia and China.
In women's 4-way formation skydiving, the British finished three points ahead of Norway and 12 points ahead of the U.S. In canopy formation, the 8-way speed team finished behind France, which built the required formations a total of 45 seconds more quickly over eight rounds. Russia got the bronze. In 4-way rotations, the U.S. team finished well behind Russia, and Sweden took bronze. After a tie-breaker, the U.S. 4-way sequential CF team earned the silver medal behind France. Russia settled for bronze. In formation skydiving, the U.S. 4-way open team was badly outdistanced by France but finished seven points ahead of a very strong Norwegian team. The U.S. and the Russians fought tooth and nail for the top slot in 8-way, with Russia winning after a tie-breaker. France took the bronze. France ran away with the gold and silver for the women in freestyle, and Japan took bronze. In men's freestyle, Denmark took gold, followed by Australia and France.
In female skysurfing, the Russians took the gold, followed by France and Switzerland. For the men, it was Russia in first place, followed by Switzerland and France. The U.S. freefly team walked away with the only gold for the U.S. delegation, finishing 0.4 points ahead of the French, who also took bronze. The French ran a well-organized meet at the Gap DZ, with few complaints and even fewer real problems. And with metal mined from almost every discipline, the U.S. Team's luggage weighed a lot more going home. |
