French jumpers set for sweep

French jumpers set for sweep

LIDO, West Java (JP): France maintained its superb form
yesterday for a possible clean sweep of the Sixth World
Parachuting Championships on Canopy Formation.

Although strong winds caused the organizers to stop the
sorties, France has maintained its chance of winning the overall
title when the biennial meet concludes tomorrow.

Competing teams managed only to make the sixth jump in the
four-way sequential, the seventh jump in the four-way canopy
formation, and the sixth and seventh jumps in the eight-way speed
formation event.

With just one jump left, defending champion France combined a
total time of 237.12 seconds in the eight-way speed formation.
Coming a distant second was the United States which clocked
256.98 seconds.

Host Indonesia, which was represented by the Air Force's and
the Army's Special Forces, managed 784.95 seconds. They are last
among the six teams competing in the eight-way speed formation.

France confirmed its mastery with two record-breaking jumps on
Tuesday and Thursday.

The four-way sequential also belonged to the Frenchmen, who
have performed a total of 68 formations in seven jumps.

Each team has 120 seconds to display as many formations as
possible.

Defending champion the United States, whose record of 16
formations in a single jump two years ago in Australia remains
secure, trailed France with 57 formations.

The Indonesian team, represented by the Aves Club from
Bandung, West Java, brought up the rear with 10 formations in a
single jump. The Indonesian team underwent a one month training
stint in the United States prior to the championships.

In the four-way canopy rotation, France and Italy stayed
canopy-to-canopy after seven sorties. The French managed a total
of 142 rotations, just one rotation ahead of Italy.

Meanwhile, program coordinator Ahmed Solihin said free falls
by the Air Force Special Force and the winners of each category
will cap-off the closing ceremony tomorrow.

"We will also invite the Canadian team to take part in the
ceremony," Ahmed said.

The colorful Canadian team, wearing yellow and purple
jumpsuits to match their parachutes, drew mounds of applause from
spectators because of its difficult maneuvers.

The closing ceremony will also feature traditional dances and
art performances like kendang rancak and debus.

A bogey above the Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Central
Java is planned for Monday and Tuesday. (yan)