posted May 3rd, 2002 - The connection between the recent 8-way aftermath story of Veloce QRF at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship and the next NSL News interview from the unpublished archives is once again pure coincidence. The next visit in the NSL News office after Joey Jones' in February 2002 happened after a training camp of the DeLand Norgies in May 2002.

The three FAI medal winners of 2001 (Airspeed Vertical, France, DeLand Norgies) all decided to come back and compete for the next set of gold medals in 2003. The French and the Norwegian team did not have any qualification issues, while Airspeed Vertical had to defeat DeLand Majik and Golden Knights at the USPA Nationals 2002 first.

The introduction to the interview related to the archived NSL News update from 24 April 2002 that still has to be published. Pal Kolbenstvedt is still competing in 4-way and 8-way with his original team mates.

"The NSL News covered the status of the DeLand Norgies on 24 April 2002 after a training camp in DeLand, Florida. Before team members Pal Kolbenstvedt and Lise Aune left Florida heading home this week, the NSL News had the chance to interview Pal Kolbenstvedt in the NSL office. Here is the first-hand information about the Norgies."

NSL News interview with Pal Kolbenstvedt on 3 May 2002

NSL News: Pal, have you become a serious Punky Fish member now? Will you take Dutch citizenship?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: No, the other way. Paul and Bert consider applying for Norwegian citizenship. Seriously, Punky Fish 2001, with myself, Lise, Paul and Bert will do another training camp in November and compete at the NSL Championship 2002. Punky Fish will continue in 2003 with Ole-Pettr Hjelle replacing Bert and make approx. 350 jumps.

NSL News: You and Lise are player coaches with Punky Fish on a quite busy schedule. What are the actual plans of the original Norgies for the future? Will the two projects interfere with each other?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: No. The Norgies are still working on a schedule for 2003. We will announce these plans as soon as we have decided anything. The Norgies will definitely compete at the World Championship in 2003. The question is only how much training, time and money we will be able to put together.

---

FAI World Meet 2001			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		8,19,24	A,L,22,H	E,10,D,11	21,6,4	B,18,C,14	G,5,20	2,1,16	M,K,12,9	15,23,P	O,17,Q,N	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	19	25	21	19	20	20	20	23	17	30	214	21.4
2	Maubeuge	FR	19	20	20	18	21	21	19	23	20	31	212	21.2
3	DeLand Norgies	NO	19	22	20	18	19	19	19	21	18	31	206	20.6

---

NSL News: For a while it seemed as if there would not be any Norgies any longer at all. How and when did this change?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: After the World Games in Japan we decided to discontinue with the original lineup. Many years of financial sacrifices forced the team members to step back and stop or take a break. Our wallets were crying for mercy. Our banks did not play our game any longer and began asking questions how to get their money back. After things have calmed down a little bit, we all felt that we are not done yet. When three of us met again in DeLand for different purposes, we jumped together for fun. When we beat Airspeed after the first three rounds of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2002 without any training, we all felt that the DeLand Norgies still have something to offer in the competition arena.

NSL News: These three rounds were without center inside Torstein Valen who was replaced by Majik member Doug Park. Did you communicate this plan with Torstein? How did he feel about it? Is he hungry, too?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: Torstein would always be ready. However, he is going to flight school in North Carolina. And we do not know how his job future will look like.

NSL News: Would you be even stronger with your original lineup? Doug is one of the best center insides in the world.

Pal Kolbenstvedt: In my view, Torstein is the best inside center the skydiving world has ever seen, and that pretty much answers your question (laughing).

NSL News: Now we know that the Norgies will be back in 2003. How much will you train? How does the schedule look like at this point?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: At this point, we do not know anything. We may do 200 or 1,000 jumps. We know more after the World Cup 2002.

NSL News: You mentioned that you beat Airspeed in this training meet. Do you think that the Norgies can win the gold medal at the next world meet in 2003?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: After a bad performance at the world meet in 2001, we proved our abilities in Japan. The whole team firmly believes that we have the skills and determination to win. But we have to train enough, as well, probably at least 700 training jumps to be in the race for gold. We would be the only top team with the same lineup at four consecutive world championships. That speaks for the Norgies.

NSL News: Can you beat Majik?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: We can beat everybody if we have our day.

---

FAI World Meet 2003			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		1,11,12	M,J,E,10	K,16,6	13,14,5	D,22,4	9,C,Q,N	F,19,21	2,20,L	18,B,3	8,P,7	Total	Avg
1	Maubeuge	FR	16	26	23	19	21	37	24	21	19	23	229	22.9
2	Golden Knights	US	17	24	22	19	18	35	22	18	19	20	214	21.4
3	DeLand Norgies	NO	13	24	21	19	18	36	19	16	19	21	206	20.6

---

NSL News: Majik member and Norgies coach Solly Williams may be your opponent. Will he still be available as your coach?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: Solly was more than our coach. He became like a member of the team. The subject of him as a coach for next year has not been touched yet. Realistically, we will probably have to work without a technical coach. However, due to the high quality and incredible amount of 4-way knowledge in DeLand, we will have a constant communication and exchange of ideas with the other top teams and competitors anyway.

NSL News: Who will win the U.S. Nationals this year?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: My heart is with Majik. Just looking at the talent, Majik should win. However, they still have to train a lot to win. And I have a tremendous respect for Airspeed’s ability to perform their best at the important competitions. I do not expect the Golden Knights to win. Sorry, Hoovman, just to motivate you.

NSL News: How do you see the French position in the game?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: They will win the 8-way event. And they can win the 4-way event, as well, especially since they have the jump plane advantage. I would put my money on the French 8-way, not on the 4-way. Everything is possible in 4-way.

---

FAI World Meet 2003			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		1,11,12	M,J,E,10	K,16,6	13,14,5	D,22,4	9,C,Q,N	F,19,21	2,20,L	18,B,3	8,P,7	G,O,17,H	Total	Avg
1	Evolution Pro	RU	23	19	24	16	26	21	19	18	21	15	19	202	20.2
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	23	19	24	17	23	20	19	17	24	16	19	202	20.2
3	Maubeuge	FR	25	17	21	13	25	20	16	16	24	16	-	193	19.3

---

NSL News: Pal Kolbenstvedt has been with the Norgies in 4-way and in 8-way for more than ten years. Can you never get enough of this?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: No (laughing). The key to happiness in life is finding out what you like the most and do it all the time.

NSL News: You and Lise recently broke up after a long relationship. What are your thoughts looking ahead to the team's future as individuals in the same team?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: People said it would be impossible being in a relationship in a top team. We proved everybody wrong. Now they say that it is impossible to be in a team after breaking up. We will prove them wrong again (laughing).

NSL News: Pal, you sound that you are really getting into the skydiving world after working as a fire-fighter for many years while competing. Norway is not really offering the perfect skydiving conditions. What are your plans?

Pal Kolbenstvedt: After November 2002, I am planning to become a full-time coach. Being a successful competitor does not necessarily mean that you are a good coach. But coaching part-time this year gave me the confidence that I really have something to offer. I have tried a humble and step-by-step approach to coaching. And I like sharing my enthusiasm for 4-way more and more.

NSL News: Thank you, Pal.