posted Oct 28th, 2008 - All captured videos of the 4-way Open Class competition at the USPA Nationals 2008 are now available on NSL-TV. The missing videos have been added to the event's special NSL-TV page.

The available videos of last week's competition in Eloy include two jumps of the US national 4-way team in the female category, Fastrax Blue. The 2008 season was a very turbulent time for Becky Brocato, Erin Murphy and Brianne Thompson and included the complete emotional spectrum between sadness and joy.

The NSL News covered the team on its way from qualification as the national female lineup at the USPA Nationals 2007 to the silver medals for the USA at the World Meet 2008. The sad part on this dramatic journey was the loss of team member Kelley Frederickson on May 20 who died in her sleep at night in the middle of a training camp in Perris (see NSL News story on 21 May 2008).

Becky Brocato, Erin Murphy and Brianne Thompson decided to move on and were so fortunate to find Perris Fury's Christy Frikken filling the slot throughout the World Meet in August in France (see NSL News story on 11 June 2008). Her teammate Chris Farina was injured, and Perris Fury was unable to train in that time period.

Christy Frikken motivated the team and pushed the performance to a new level. Fastrax Blue finished with a 19.8 average after six rounds at the World Meet 2008 and ended up in second place, one single point behind UK's Bodyflight Storm and the gold medal position. It was a surprise and an upset for the French national team, Aerokart Deep Blue.

Perris Fury's Center Outside, who jumped the Point slot for Fastrax Blue, left the female lineup to resume training with her Fury boys when Chris Farina had recovered. The Perris team had to prepare for the upcoming USPA Nationals. Fastrax Blue planned to compete in Eloy, as well, and was once again looking for a new team member.

Marie Harrell filled the slot for the competition last week, and her husband Bryan Harrell was filming the team. Fastrax Blue with the next new Point competed in the Open Class and finished in 15th position with a 16.5 average after ten rounds. It was an impressive result considering the circumstances.

Becky Brocato, Erin Murphy and Brianne Thompson did not hesitate for very long after the conclusion of the USPA Nationals 2008 to make new plans for the next two years. They are highly motivated to move on and win gold medals at the World Meet in 2010, as team speaker Erin Murphy officially announced for her team:

"The US Women's 4-way Team, Fastrax Blue, is looking for a 4th teammate. Fastrax Blue members Becky Brocato, Brianne Thompson, and Erin Murphy, silver medalists at the 2008 World Championships, are looking to continue competing together with the goal of winning the next World Championships in 2010 in the female category. The team is planning to hold preliminary try-outs between December 7-9 at the Paraclete XP wind tunnel in Raeford, NC. The team can be contacted at fastraxblue@gmail.com for further information."

Fastrax Blue obviously has a realistic goal, as the silver medals at this year's world meet clearly show. It will be an interesting and very exciting 2-year journey, as the French national team will also continue for the same two more years. French national coach Jerome David announced his plans for the female category already earlier. Bodyflight Storm, the reigning world champions from the United Kingdom, have not decided yet whether to continue or not.

The NSL News will follow up with more information, at the latest after the preliminary try-outs for the Fastrax Blue slot in December.