posted Apr 1st, 2009 - There is still a lot of information coming from the results of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2009. However, it is time to move forward at the same time for the NSL News, as the first round of the World Challenge 2009 is only a few days away.

Teams, competitors and officials will hopefully have a smooth travel to the United Kingdom. This year's World Challenge at Bodyflight Bedford coincides with the G20 Summit in London, where the group of twenty finance ministers and central bank governors, plus political leaders of the world meet to discuss the economic crisis.

It may not be the most peaceful event, as several demonstrations and rallies are already happening in London. The most comprehensive security measures in the British history currently await the World Challenge 2009 participants at their arrival in London.

The NSL News moves the headquarters from DeLand to Bedford today. Tomorrow's next update will come directly from Bodyflight Bedford where owner Paul Meyer and his staff prepare the competition site for a new record breaking event.

£20,000 are on stake again this year, of which £10,000 will be paid out to the four winning teams in the 4-way competition. Airspeed Odyssey won the £5,000 for the first place already two times and is the top contender for the same cash amount once again.

Several other world class teams will challenge the reigning 4-way world champions, including the silver medalist of the World Meet 2008, France Maubeuge, and the bronze medalist, Hayabusa Defence.

The other £10,000 go to the four best Freeflying teams. A few teams and competitors even compete in both events. Team Future is already used to moving back and forth between 4-way competition and Freeflying.

Spaceland Force XP member Thomas Hughes wants to win money in both events. He mentioned during the live interview with the NSL News on 27 May 2009 that he would like to stop Airspeed's 16 - 0 winning streak with his XL lineup this weekend. He also competes with Skydive University's Kimberly Worthington in Freeflying.

4-way and Freeflying competition take turns round by round at the World Challenge 2009, which will make it challenging once again for Team Future's Tinucci siblings. Thomas Hughes will have to deal with this schedule for the first time at the World Challenge.

Bodyflight Bedford's doors will open at 7:30 am on Saturday, and Paul Meyer will welcome the participants at the 8 am briefing. Then the teams have three minutes of flying time each to get familiar with the flying chamber and to determine the team specific air speed.

The competition draw is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday. Round 1 begins at 1 pm. The completion of each round will take approx. 50 minutes. Each team has 80 minutes between the rounds. Five rounds are planned for Saturday.

Round 6 is scheduled for Sunday morning at 9 am, and the flying sessions should be over shortly after 3 pm. The final scores will be officially announced at 4:30 pm, and the award ceremony begins shortly afterwards.