posted Apr 2nd, 2008 - Two national teams, which are expected to be medal contenders at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving this year in France and did not compete at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008, attended the World Challenge 2008: Norway's team Arcteryx and Hayabusa Defence from Belgium.

Their appearance at Bodyflight Bedford completes the field of international top contenders who posted scores at the beginning of the 2008 season. The NSL News will take a closer look at the bigger international picture after the start of the world meet season and begins with the FAI World Cup champion of 2007, Hayabusa Defence.

Spa Hayabusa placed 6th at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Germany 2006 with a 20.4 average after five rounds. David Grauwels (Center Outside), Andy Grauwels (Point) and Roy Janssen (Tail) joined the Belgian Army and Luc Verstrepen replaced Sven Ibens in 2007.

Hayabusa Defence then won the FAI World Cup 2007 in Russia with a 22.9 average after a jump-off round with France Maubeuge and became military CISM 2007 world champions after an 8-round race with the Golden Knights. Hayabusa won in India by one single point with a 31.5 average.

The 2008 season began differently for the Belgian national team. Hayabusa Defence had to settle in 5th place at the World Challenge 2008 with a 25.4 average after the ten tunnel rounds. The same lineup had already posted a 24.7 average at last year's event at Bodyflight Bedford.

In the meantime, Hayabusa's last year's opponent at the FAI World Cup, France Maubeuge, visited Skydive DeLand for the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 and the first direct confrontation with Airspeed Odyssey, this year's top contender in IPC's Open Class competition.

The French national 4-way team fell behind on the first day in DeLand but kept up well with the US team throughout the second half of the meet. Hayabusa Defence on the other side, and only two weeks later, finished 29 points behind Airspeed Odyssey at the World Challenge 2009.

In addition to that, the Belgian team had to accept that Norway's national team Arcteryx finished six points ahead of Hayabusa Defence in Bedford. Arcteryx' 2007 lineup was still 27 points (23.0 - 20.3) behind Hayabusa at the FAI World Cup in August 2007. What has happened ever since?

The Belgian team has trained in a professional manner between the end of the 2007 season and the World Challenge 2008, as the resources of the Belgian Army allow the team to train full time. Hayabusa's Tail, Roy Janssen, explained for the NSL News that lack of experience how to use these resources might be one of the reasons that slowed down the progression.

Roy Janssen provided more insights for the NSL News, which will become part of a follow-up story. The Belgian team had specific problems in Bedford, as well. Center Inside Luc Verstrepen Luc was sick with fever and a lung infection throughout the competition. He was forced to use anti-biotics, which made him feel dizzy all the time.

However, the unlimited potential of the Hayabusa lineup still flashed through here and there, as the Belgian team posted scores close to the top teams in Bedford most of the time. The terrible Round 6 was so costly that Hayabusa Defence fell hopelessly behind the money winning teams in 1st through 4th place.

The Hayabusa progression and the team's performance in Bedford was not a big surprise for Roy Janssen and his team after a recent training camp with Airspeed Odyssey's 4-way competition veteran Craig Girard. They realized that there still was a lot to learn, mostly in the mental part of 4-way training and competition, and also with group dynamics.

Craig Girard's coaching experience helped the Belgian team to uncover weak areas during the training camp in Eloy in March 2008. There was obviously not enough time to already apply any of the new ideas and plans of that camp in Bedford. However, the Hayabusa Defence members are now eager to catch up after a phase of stagnation. The NSL News will follow up with more information of the new Hayabusa plans.