posted Apr 10th, 2008 - The NSL News invited XL member at the World Challenge 2008, Pete Allum, to the NSL office for a live interview before he leaves DeLand heading for the summer in Europe. It was time to ask the many questions about the "mystery team" at Bodyflight Bedford directly to a team member. The video of the live interview comes along with three more XL videos of the competition in Bedford, Rounds 2, 3 and 7.

Pete Allum attended the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 with Team Fastrax where he filled the Tail slot for John Hart. His XL teammates of 2003, Thomas Hughes and Steve Hamilton, competed with him for Fastrax (with Doug Park) in DeLand, Thomas Hughes was his piece partner. Then the same 3-way traveled to the United Kingdom where they joined forces with Brian Johnson.

Pete Allum and Thomas Hughes now split up their rear piece, and Pete Allum took the Point position for the XL 2008 lineup in Bedford. Steve Hamilton was his new piece partner in the front piece. This XL lineup completed three 30-minute training sessions at Bodyflight before the World Challenge 2008. The results of the competition are well known.

One of the longest standing 4-way and 8-way competitors in the world has not done much 4-way training this year so far. Pete Allum was waiting until his current team, Sinapsi PD, would resume its activities. And that happened right after the World Challenge 2008 with the first windtunnel training.

The NSL News was interested in Pete Allum's thoughts of the current upswing in 4-way Formation Skydiving. He said that the 4-way community is a fun loving group that does not care much about an economic recession.

He also explained the 4-way momentum with a steep progression of skydivers who train and learn in the windtunnels. Learning the skills and techniques quickly and efficiently lifts the performance and scoring level and creates additional motivation. Then the teams and competitors get even more addicted to the sport.

Pete Allum's brief evaluation of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 included credit for the French national 4-way team from Maubeuge. He said that the French team seems to be much closer to Airspeed Odyssey than many had expected.

The World Challenge 2008 with XL was the next topic on the interview's agenda. Pete Allum explained what happened in Round 10 when XL lost two points and the meet. He was directly involved when the team had shifted slightly closer to the wall, which then became an obstacle for his individual 540 turn.

Pete Allum also explained why XL was better and closer to Airspeed this year. The team had learned from last year's experiences at the same place and was ready to hold on to the top position throughout the second half of the meet. However, he admitted that XL would probably be farther behind Airspeed Odyssey in an outdoor competition. The XL members are very well trained tunnel flyers.

His evaluation of other top teams in Bedford included the Russian team Skylight Barkli and Hayabusa Defence, the Begian national 4-way team. He confirmed that the situation for Hayabusa was difficult right after a challenging training camp with Craig Girard in Eloy.

Pete Allum always keeps his eyes on the Russian top teams. He said that they bring an element of surprise to a competition. Their continuity plans are very different and mostly more efficient compared to other top teams.

One of the keys to the XL success at the World Challenge 2008 were the perfect group dynamics, which include the dry British humor, as Pete Allum explained. This topic brought the NSL News to the question whether the XL lineup of 2003 (Pete Allum, Thomas Hughes, Steve Hamilton, John McIver) should have continued a few more years to go for gold medals at World Championships of Formation Skydiving.

XL with Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton and John McIver (plus Brian Johnson) performed on the very top at the World Challenge 2007. XL with Pete Allum, Steve Hamilton and Thomas Hughes (again with Brian Johnson) was even stronger this year. How far could XL be right now if all 2003 members joined forces for indoor and outdoor competition?

Such speculation is not really of any serious thought for Pete Allum since reality is very different. Thomas Hughes competes as a US citizen with Team Fastrax (4-way) and Knight Trax (8-way). Pete Allum and Steve Hamilton are members of the new Sinapsi PD lineup and will compete for Italy. John McIver is the only XL member who works and lives in the United Kingdom.

Pete Allum is now looking forward to his summer in Ampuriabrava, Spain, where he works as a 4-way coach. The first training camp with Sinapsi PD was successful. The new lineup copied the competition draw of the World Challenge 2008 and finished with a 26-point average.

Livio Piccolo (Point), Luca Marchioro (Center Inside), Pete Allum (Tail) and Steve Hamilton (Center Outside) will complete approx. 150 training jumps before the Italian Nationals 2008, try to win the 4-way title and qualify as the national team for the international events in 2009.

The video of the live interview with Pete Allum can be viewed by clicking here.