posted Feb 23rd, 2010 - The NSL News is going back to the coverage of the Valentine's Meet 2010.

There is still more footage waiting to be processed and uploaded.

Today it is time for the latest NSL Talk with Arizona Airspeed, which took place in Eloy after the world champions had completed their 10-round meet on Sunday. The infamous Round 10 was one of the topics of the discussion, of course.

All ten competition jumps were already featured with the NSL News story on 14 February 2010, including the slowest sequence of Round 10 (4-21-20).

The NSL Talk did not happen right after the last jump and the end of the competition. Thomas Hughes had already mentioned during his visit at the Airspeed team room that he was planning to organize a 16-way jump with Airspeed and the Dutch/Belgian 4-way team 4XTT, plus the Dutch team Creeps that was training in Eloy at the same time.

He invited the NSL News reporter, who was completely unprepared, to join this 16-way. Excuses were not accepted, and there were approx. 20 minutes to find equipment. Airspeed's Andy Delk provided a jump suit, Steve Nowak the gear, Craig Girard helmet and gloves before the dirtdive began.

Creeps team videographer Barry van Rossum filmed the 16-way jump from the top and provided photos, as well. 4XTT's videographer Grim added his footage shooting from below the formation. It was a fun jump, created by Thomas Hughes and Craig Girard, and it was a good reason to delay the NSL Talk for a while.

Eventually, Airspeed and NSL News were done with all other activities, and it was time to sit down and discuss the Airspeed performance at the Valentine's Meet 2010 and more of the 2010 season. The NSL Talk actually began with the Airspeed visit in Dubai.

Then the Airspeed members talked about the recent visit of the French national 4-way team in Eloy. Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge held a training camp right before the Valentine's Meet and trained side by side with their biggest rivals. Both teams went through a 10-round practice meet together that the French team won by a few points.

It did not take too long until Round 10 of the Valentine's Meet became the topic. Craig Girard said that it was a very slow sequence and that it would take a peak performance to break the 20. Airspeed ended up a grip away from the 20th point within working time.

The point deductions in Round 7 (M-7-18) were the next topic. Airspeed lost four points, each of them at the finish of Block 18 (Zircon - Zircon). The Airspeed members remembered how the situation felt in freefall and how they see the future where the performance speed of the top teams is still increasing.

Craig Girard said that he spent some time with the judges and discussed the application of the rules. It is challenging on both ends, as nobody wants to slow down the progression of the sport and the athletic performance.

The Airspeed members were looking for ways how to make it as easy as possible for the judges. However, it also sounded as if Chief Judge Judy Celaya and the Airspeed world champions agreed that the evaluation of the jumps may require a different view, including more common sense. Judy Celaya said that there has already been a little change in the way how the judges look at the videos. Judy Celaya and Rina Gallo will also be the judges at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2010, and the NSL News will have the opportunity to follow up with more feedback from both sides.