posted May 28th, 2003 - Pete Allum is one of the legends in the history of Formation Skydiving competition. He has been the role model for many competitors not only in the athletic area of the sport. It was not a big surprise that he became a very popular coach while he competed actively and until today.

He has joined many NSL Live Talk conversations, the most recent one in the middle of the corona virus crisis on June 3rd. Topic were not his competitive roots with the British national 4-way team Sebastian XL. However, the NSL News found another unpublished interview with Pete Allum in the archives, where he discussed his team's goal of winning the gold medals at the FAI World Meet 2003.

XL eventually finished in 4th place behind the DeLand Norgies at three consecutive world meets (1999 - 2001 - 2003). Ironically, Pete Allum would then win a bronze medal with the Italian team Sinapsi PD in 2006. XL came back as an indoor team after a long break and challenged the best teams in the world until the World Challenge 2014. The NSL News introduced Pete Allum for the interview in May 2003:

"Although the team has been around for many years, Sebastian XL has become the current shooting star in the 4-way competition world. The British national team posted a 23.2 meet average at the Florida Skydiving League meet in April and recently a 21.8 average in Japan. The NSL News was interested in more XL information and interviewed team captain Pete Allum yesterday."

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NSL News interview with Pete Allum on 28 May 2003

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NSL NEWS: Pete, Sebastian XL just came back from a trip to Japan. How was the real Sushi? PETE ALLUM: I normally crave sushi daily, however after the trip to Japan I felt like I could go for a few days. We were looked after like kings. NSL NEWS: Well, it might not be the last treat if XL continues to score like world champions. The XL scores at the Florida Skydiving League and in Japan were currently shaking up the 4-way world. Is the gold medal in sight?

PETE ALLUM: Yes, we have been given a taste of what we are capable of. We now have to perform on the day, as well as keep working hard for the next three months. NSL NEWS: How do you compare the 36 in Japan to the current world record of 42 points by France? Which sequence was faster? PETE ALLUM: Even though it is a random block, we feel that Block 9 is a slower move. We also had a pretty slow start to the dive in Japan. I still think that the Frenchies rocked!

NSL NEWS: Which plane did you jump from in Japan? PETE ALLUM: Cessna Caravan. NSL NEWS: You are probably currently training the right door, how did you deal with the left door in Japan? PETE ALLUM: It went okay, we struggled on a Cataccord launch, but the rest of the exits went okay. I don't know if you are aware that Steve was not with us in Japan, we had a stand-in, a very good one - Craig Girard. It was great to get the Airspeed angle.

NSL NEWS: Did you mirror image the sequences or switch slots across? PETE ALLUM: We slid everything over, the same that we do from the Pilatus Porter. NSL NEWS: Pete, looking at the 36 points in Japan, it seems as if XL can keep up with the French speed. And you recently beat several block times of DeLand Majik. Other XL block times compare well with the other top teams. Is there anything in the way to compete for the gold medal at the world meet this year?

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FAI World Meet 1999			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		9,24,A	O,M,2,Q	14,P,11	19,3,15	N,8,12	C,1,E,20	K,23,17	B,16,21	L,22,J,7	G,5,6	Total	Avg
1	Maubeuge	FR	23	23	18	19	18	24	21	21	21	20	208	20.8
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	23	24	19	16	17	26	19	19	20	19	202	20.2
3	DeLand Norgies	NO	21	23	16	17	16	23	20	19	20	16	191	19.1
4	Sebastian XL	UK	21	23	16	17	17	23	18	17	20	18	190	19.0
5	Russia	RU	22	20	13	16	16	17	18	17	18	15	172	17.2
6	Australia	AU	20	21	15	15	14	19	17	17	15	16	169	16.9
7	Daedalus	DE	18	18	13	13	14	18	15	14	16	16	155	15.5

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PETE ALLUM: It has been a big jump for us. We have also managed to perform well for more than just one meet. We believe that we are capable of the gold. NSL NEWS: I remember the interview for the NSL Profiles when you mentioned that you were ready to quit after the world meet in 1999. You found new motivation after a break. However, XL placed fourth again in 2001, far away from the gold medal. Did your motivation drop again at that time?

PETE ALLUM: I had a dream that I was part of a team that was averaging 24 points. This stoked my fire. XL achieved our goal in 2001. We set an average and an attitude and had a great meet. NSL NEWS: What happened to XL and caused the recent progression between the end of 2001 and now? PETE ALLUM: We changed our team again; we always find it hard to keep all four members longer than two years. We have also had some very effective coaching from Dr. John. This year we are also training in a very different way than before. We now do short intensive camps.

NSL NEWS: XL seems to skydive more aggressively than ever before. Was a more energetic approach a part of the plan? PETE ALLUM: Yes, that is part of the plan. I now look at our older jumps and they look like slow motion. When we are at our best, it feels like a different gear.

NSL NEWS: What was Dr. John's key advise for Sebastian XL? PETE ALLUM: There was a lot that we found effective, mostly having confidence in ourselves, in our ability and believing that we could do it. He also said that we could be a bit pushier. NSL NEWS: Where do you see XL's strength compared to other top teams? PETE ALLUM: We have our own identity as a team, our own sense of humor, even our own language. Tucked in there is a Bulldog waiting to fight...

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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
4	Sebastian XL	UK	17	22	20	17	18	19	19	21	18	28	199	19.9
5	Endeavour	CH	14	17	15	14	14	16	15	17	13	26	161	16.1
6	Sinapsi PD	IT	12	13	17	15	15	15	14	19	15	24	159	15.9

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Sebastian XL at a Florida Skydiving League meet in 2001

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NSL NEWS: When you said "pushier", does this mean that the British national team was too much "gentleman-style", too nice, not mean enough? PETE ALLUM: You’ve got it. NSL NEWS: And now there is the bulldog waiting inside of the five gentlemen? PETE ALLUM: Yes.

NSL NEWS: Are there XL weaknesses? Where is the room for improvement for an experienced coach like you? PETE ALLUM: We have some random work that requires attention, as well as a couple of blocks that could do with polishing. However, when we are ON, then even a few minor hiccups won't stop us. NSL NEWS: Which blocks would require more work? PETE ALLUM: 5,8,12,19,22.

NSL NEWS: Who are the teams you expect to give you the toughest competition in France? PETE ALLUM: There are possibly six teams that will have a very interesting meet in France: XL, U.S.A., France, Norway, Italy and Russia. NSL NEWS: Is this order also the ranking order you expect? PETE ALLUM: This was just a list, but you might have noticed how I put us 1st.

NSL NEWS: Pete, there are rumors that the duration of the competition might be extended from five days to seven days. Did you know that? PETE ALLUM: I just heard this tonight. I thought that the rules stated that the meet could go no more than five days. It would really tax the competitors, who are only in one event, to keep the energy going for two more days. However, we will be ready to do whatever we need.

NSL NEWS: I am sure that the attending teams would get early enough notice of a potential change of the rules. Would you prefer a shorter or longer duration? PETE ALLUM: Five days is good, I have definitely had to dig deep on those meets that required a longer duration.

NSL NEWS: The NSL News will try to find out what it is with these rumors. Pete, you have two daughters. And Anne and you just had baby girl Sian not too long ago. How old is she now? PETE ALLUM: I am glad you mentioned Sian. I wanted to say how happy I was to be a Dad again:-) Sian is nine months next week.

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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
4	Sebastian XL	UK	14	22	21	19	17	34	21	18	19	20	205	20.5
5	Sinapsi PD	IT	13	24	22	17	17	32	22	18	18	-	183	20.3
6	Endeavour	CH	13	21	19	15	17	29	21	17	16	-	168	18.7
7	NMPV	BE	15	19	19	16	15	29	19	16	16	-	164	18.2
8	EADS	DE	14	19	17	15	15	26	17	16	16	-	155	17.2

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Sebastian XL at a Florida Skydiving League meet in 2003

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NSL NEWS: How does the bulldog go along with the family man and father of a 9-month old girl? PETE ALLUM: A competitor can have a strong and loving family. I bet that bulldogs look after their puppies pretty well. NSL NEWS: Is it difficult to manage your life between team, family, training camps, babysitting, coaching, etc.? PETE ALLUM: It is challenging but that's what is most fun, the challenge. I have purposely taken less work this year.

NSL NEWS: XL center inside John McIver has a big and happy family, as well. Is balanced family life the key to success? What about your other teammates? PETE ALLUM: I used to believe that skydiving was all that mattered; I guess things change as we get interested in other areas of life. John does an amazing job; he has three kids and has to travel over from the UK for our camps. My other team mates enjoy life outside of skydiving as well.

NSL NEWS: Sebastian XL spent the winter season at Skydive Sebastian in Florida. You are currently at Skydive Cross Keys, supported by John Eddows. Will you stay there for the rest of the season? PETE ALLUM: We are here till the 12th June. Then we meet in the UK in July, train and compete at our nationals before we go to Italy to train prior to the world meet. I would like to take a moment to thank our sponsors John Eddows and Skydive Sebastian, and especially the British Parachute Association.

NSL NEWS: The season opener of the MidAtlantic Skydiving League is coming up this weekend at Cross Keys. Will we see new XL scores at John's place? PETE ALLUM: Yes, as long as it is not raining. NSL NEWS: Good luck with the weather. This will be XL's third NSL meet and bring eligibility for the NSL Playoffs and Championship 2003. Is there a chance that XL will challenge DeLand Majik, the current NSL Champion, again this year? PETE ALLUM: I hope so.

NSL NEWS: Do you have one key advise or wisdom for the competitors of the valued NSL audience by world-class coach and competitor Pete Allum? PETE ALLUM: Have fun, put your heart into everything you do. I don't feel like a veteran. NSL NEWS: Thank you very much for the interview, Pete. And good luck for the remainder of the season and the world meet. PETE ALLUM: Thanks. keep up the excellent work on the NSL.

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World Challenge 2014			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class - Top 10		17,18,19	5,16,6	4,N,13	P,F,12,M	J,D,10,K	G,3,O,C	H,22,14	20,2,8	1,21,11	15,7,L	A,B,E,Q,9	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	27	29	28	36	32	36	25	21	24	33	-	291	29.1
2	XL	UK	25	25	21	34	28	30	23	21	23	33	46	263	26.3
3	VoltR	FR	26	24	23	33	28	32	23	22	21	31	45	263	26.3
4	Gavroches	FR	23	25	24	33	31	31	20	18	21	28	-	254	25.4
5	SportLoto	RU	24	26	20	30	21	30	24	21	20	27	-	243	24.3
6	Thunder ISR	BE	20	24	21	30	27	27	21	21	21	29	-	241	24.1
7	Qatar Tigers	QA	21	21	22	29	27	28	18	17	21	26	-	230	23.0
8	Voodoo	UK	21	23	19	28	26	27	19	18	19	23	-	223	22.3
9	Artemis Saumur Flyzone	FR	16	21	18	26	26	25	19	17	18	24	-	210	21.0
10	Cats in a Bath	FR	20	19	17	25	24	23	20	16	19	22	-	205	20.5

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XL at the World Challenge 2014

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