posted Jan 12th, 2009 - The NSL News story on 7 January 2009 provided the first preview of the World Challenge 2009 and introduced the AAA Class teams that were already registered by then.

The indoor competition at Bodyflight Bedford also includes the AA Class and Free Flying, as these three categories already combined for the World Challenge in 2008.

The event was launched in 2006 with only the 4-way AAA Class competition. Airspeed Odyssey won over Spa Hayabusa in 2006 and cashed in £4,000. The Belgian team won £2,000 and Sweden's team 42 won the bronze medals and £1,500. Additional £500 went to Italy for Fast & Furious' 4th place. Twelve teams competed in Bedford in 2006.

The NSL News covered the event live for the first time in 2007. The second World Challenge added a Free Flying competition, which was attended by eleven teams and had £8,000 in its jackpot. The jackpot for the 4-way teams went up to £10,000 and 19 teams attended the AAA Class competition in 2007. Airspeed Odyssey won the first place again and £5,000 this time. Team Fastrax (£3,000), XL (£1,500) and Hayabusa Defence (£500) took the rest of the money.

Bodyflight owner Paul Mayer added the AA Class competition to the World Challenge 2008, which was attended by nine teams last year. UK team S4 (Karen Bain, Jason Kierman, Doug McLelland, Clara Melia) won the first AA Class meet in Bedford with a 17.1 average.

The record number of 30 teams competed in the AAA Class, and Airspeed Odyssey defended the indoor title once again successfully. The £5,000 for the first place went to Arizona. XL, Perris Fury and Arcteryx shared the rest of the same £10,000 jackpot. Another 13 teams competed in Free Flying last year, and the best teams won the other £10,000 of the complete jackpot of the World Challenge 2008.

The World Challenge 2009 offers the same competition classes as in 2008. The first preview of this year's event already introduced several of the currently registered 22 teams in the AAA Class. Paul Mayer said that the registration process indicates once again a growing participation. More teams had already signed up when the first preview was posted, compared to the same time in previous years.

Team Future leads the AA Class field and comes back from its first participation in 2008. The young siblings Kayla and Justin Tinucci ended up in last place at their first real competition. However, things will be very different this year. 4-way veteran Rusty Lewis has taken over control as the player coach, and the NSL News reported already a few times last year that Team Future now performs on a completely different level. The NSL News story on 3 October 2008 explained how Team Future has become much more competitive in 4-way.

It is probaly more realistic to expect the flying siblings in a very competitive position in the AA Class this year. Kayla and Justin Tinucci will also compete in the Freeflying competition, as they did already at the World Challenge 2008. It makes it a very tight and challenging schedule for Team Future. The NSL News covered the team's situation in 2008 between the two events and of quickly changing jump suits.

UK team Strangers competed in the A Class throughout the 2008 season and collected points for the British delegation at the ESL Championship 2008. The Stangers have signed up for the AA Class competition, as well. Atmosfera and Funbar are two new UK lineups for the World Challenge 2009.

Team Future was already competing in the professional Freeflying category in 2008. This year's field of teams in the highest Freeflying category includes the new world champions from France, Team Babylon, plus the Infinity Free Fly team. Tarn & Sara and Team MK have signed up in the amateur class of Freeflying.

The NSL News will follow up with more teams as the registration process continues.