posted Mar 25th, 2008 - Round 7 of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 saw Airspeed Odyssey coming back and posting a new highscore for a round after losing three points to France Maubeuge in the fast Round 6.

The Skins Game also had a new winner in this round. Monster Energy was the sponsor for Round 7. The energy drink has been supporting NSL events and the participating teams for a few years with product and now added $300 cash to the jackpot for this year's Shamrock Showdown.

The Norwegian team Venom won the Monster cash of $300 after handicap. The Venom lineup included two participants of the traditional Norwegian Spring Basic Camp in DeLand (Jan Chzermosch, Helene Loken) and two of their coaches (Pal Kolbenstvedt, Derek Broughton).

The two camp coaches are familiar names in the 4-way community. Pal Kolbenstvedt was the Point for the DeLand Norgies who won bronze medals at the World Championships of Formation Skydiving in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Derek Broughton is the Point for the current Norwegian national 4-way team, Arcteryx, and is going after the next set of world meet medals for Norway.

Derek Broughton already competed for Norway at the last World Meet in Germany 2006 - as a world class freeflyer. He switched to 4-way competition after that and has not looked back ever since. The Venom teammates competed against each other last year when the DeLand Norgies had another reunion at the Norwegian Nationals 2007. It was the first time that Arcteryx beat the national team of 1999 to 2003. Now they won $300 cash together for Venom. The DeLand Norgies - Arcteryx showdown will be featured again at this year's national championship.

There was another regular showdown at this year's FSL season opener. Optic Nerve and Teiwaz went after each other once again. This special internal competition has been taking place on a regular basis ever since both teams were founded in 1999.

Optic Nerve's original lineup included team founder Dr. Joel Shugar, Scott Keeler, Solly Williams and Gary Smith. Rickster Powell was filming the team. Several other player coaches have competed for Optic Nerve over the years. The lineup at the Optic Nerve - Teiwaz Shamrock Showdown 2008 included Dr. Joel Shugar, Solly Williams, Gary Smith, Ian Bobo, Doug Park, Kyle Collins, depending on who of the player coaches was available when the next round came up. Optic Nerve finished with a 17.4 average after eight rounds, a new personal best for eye surgeon Dr. Joel Shugar, who also sponsored the jackpot for the overall winner of the event.

The Teiwaz lineup situation at this year's Shamrock Showdown was more consistent than Optic Nerve's. Steve Johnson was a brandnew member and made the first jump with the team in Round 1. However, the same lineup completed all eight rounds together and ended up three points ahead of the archrival with a 17.8 average.

Three of the Teiwaz members (Jim "Bu" Klinge, Robert Chromy, Kurt Gaebel) had already attended a few FSL meets together in 2007, while Steve Johnson and Jim Klinge were also 2007 teammates with FooZa (Joey Jones, Sally Hathaway, 19.0 at the USPA Nationals 2007).

Teiwaz was actually represented in two other lineups, as well. Four previous members (Chris Ash - Tail, Kris Byrne - Center Inside, Thiago Murradas - Point, Ari Perelman - Center Outside) formed Sebastian Tempest at the end of the 2007 season, as the NSL News reported on 28 January 2008.

The talent of the new lineup was very promising, and the scores at the first competition of Sebastian Tempest were even better than the team had expected at this point in time. The 16.9 average at the FSL Shamrock Showdown was only four points behind Optic Nerve and gave Dr. Joel Shugar additional headaches in some rounds...

The Tempest team commitment brings Skydive Sebastian back into the Florida Skydiving League as a host. Sebastian Tempest has set headquarters at the scenic dropzone two hours south of DeLand and has several activities laid out for the 2008 season, including the FSL May and August meets.

Three other Teiwaz members (Bob Byrne, Rodney Cruce, Nick Grillet) competed with Team Twisted and ended up six points behind Sebastian Tempest with a 16.3 average. Round 1 of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 was also the first jump for this lineup.

Rodney Cruce (Center Inside), Nick Grillet (Point) and Golden Knight and Knight Trax member Sean Sweeney (Tail) had already competed together under the same team name at the USPA Nationals 2007 (11.6 average in the AAA/Open Class). Sebastian Tempest member Kris Byrne was the Point for Team Twisted in Ottawa last year.

The same 3-way joined forces with Teiwaz regular Bob Byrne at the Shamrock Showdown who filled the Point slot for Team Twisted in DeLand. Youngster Nick Grillet, son of NPSL Director Sandy Grillet and new Performance Designs representative, posted another personal 4-way best in the Center Outside position.

His 11.6 average with Team Twisted in Ottawa last year was already followed by a 15.3 average with Teiwaz at the NSL Championship 2007 (Jim Klinge, Robert Cromy, Kurt Gaebel). The 16.3 average at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 is the next step in a steep 4-way career. Nick Grillet lives and works for PD in DeLand now and shares his home with reigning 4-way world champion and PD Factory Team member Shannon Pilcher. He has quite a helpful living environment, as it seems...

The field of 24 teams combined for a total of ten penalties in Round 7 (including DeLand Groove, Fastrax, Golden Knights, Black Cat with one deduction each), enjoy the new round of NSL-TV.