posted Apr 3rd, 2009 - The NSL News had already mentioned a few times that the former Norwegian national team Arcteryx takes it easy this year and has officially retired as Norway's 4-way representative.

The lineup of the World Meet 2008 (Derek Broughton, Ole Petter Hjelle, Mathias Nord, Ditta Valsdottir) will compete as the national team one more time at this year's World Games in Taiwan, and that's it - after the World Challenge 2009.

Even in Bedford things are not exactly the same as they were in the past two years. Derek Broughton committed already earlier to the player coach position with the young Norwegian team Frost. Former French 4-way world champion Julien Losantos fills his slot for the tunnel competition.

The NSL-TV camera captured an Arcteryx training session today where the French world class competitor had to get used to the left-hand pattern.

The French and some other European teams have established a right-hand pattern, which is caused by the exits from the right-hand door of the Pilatus Porter.

Arcteryx applies the left-hand pattern after years of training from Twinotters, and guest player Julien Losantos follows the Arcteryx procedures.

It was still not a problem for him to fill the slot on a high-performance level, as the video of the training session shows.

It was still not the planned Arcteryx lineup in the Bodyflight chamber Friday morning. Brian Johnson filled the Tail slot for Ole Petter Hjelle who's flight from Norway to the United Kingdom was canceled last night.

He is still trying to make his way to Bedford. The Arcteryx lineup that will compete tomorrow may have never flown together when Round 1 comes up...

Brian Johnson lost his XL slot this year when the former British national team saw the opportunity to bring back together the original lineup (Pete Allum, John McIver, Steve Hamilton, Thomas Hughes). He is now filling in for Arcteryx and will lose this slot, as well, as soon as Ole Petter Hjelle arrives in Bedford.

However, the former Airspeed member will compete tomorrow - but that's another story, which will follow later...

In the meantime, the French delegation has arrived at Bodyflight Bedford, and the NSL-TV camera already captured some of their training sessions. Stay tuned.

Friday morning began with a Future breakfast and an Airspeed interview

The first thing in the morning at Bodyflight Bedford is a visit to the cafe that offers a traditional English breakfast.

The NSL News found the whole Team Future family delegation at that place. The Tinucci siblings Kayla and Justin have grown a few inches each, and they had already completed their training session early in the morning. Coach and team member Rusty Lewis is suffering from a cold but said that he is on his way up.

Airspeed was already done with Friday's training session, as well. The team members were still hanging out at Bodyflight Bedford, and the NSL News had the opportunity to catch up with the world champions after the last meeting at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2009 in DeLand.

Airspeed went back home to Eloy, Arizona, after the Shamrock Showdown and even spent some time in the SkyVenture Arizona home tunnel to work on the new entry technique. Then they came a little bit earlier to the United Kingdom for a day of tunnel coaching at the other UK wind tunnel, SkyVenture's Airkix facilities.

The outdoor and indoor champions of the past two years have already observed their challengers at this year's World Challenge since their arrival in Bedford, and there are quite a few world class lineups getting ready for the first round tomorrow morning. The live interview with Airspeed on Friday morning can be viewed by clicking here.

The NSL-TV camera then captured videos of the ever changing Arcteryx lineup during their training on Friday, followed by Hayabusa Defence. These videos will be uploaded very soon, as well. Stay tuned.