posted Mar 18th, 2010 - The scores and news from Australia took the attention of the NSL News for a day, and it is now time to go straight back to the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2010. The final preparations are in full swing, as Camscore's Jo Bell sets up the judging and DZ-TV system for the combination of 4-way, 8-way and big-way, while TV producer John Dunn works on the stage for the Shamrock show on a regional TV network. Former DeLand Majik world champion and Hayabusa coach Joey Jones will be the host of the show.

His Hayabusa team members visited the NSL office yesterday for a lengthy conversation about Hayabusa's history, present and future. By the way, the Belgian national 4-way team decided to give credit to the team's employer and officially announced a new team name:

"We would like to inform you that we changed our team name from Hayabusa Defence into NMP-PCH Hayabusa. NMP-PCH Nationale Militaire Ploeg - Parachutage. In English its National Military Team - Parachuting. This refers to our employer, the Belgian army."

It was interesting to hear what the Belgian top contenders for the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 had to say before they will have the first direct competition this year with one of the other best teams in the world, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge, the French national 4-way team.

Hayabusa defeated the same French lineup at the World Cup 2007 in Russia after a dramatic competition with a jump-off round. France then (2nd) finished ahead of Hayabusa (3rd) at the World Meet 2008 in France and won the World Cup 2009 in the Czech Republic after a flawless performance. Hayabusa trained and competed with a new team member in 2008, Waedong So. Hayabusa explained during the NSL Talk what it took the team to get the new Point up to speed.

The 2010 season began with Hayabusa's 2nd place at the Dubai Championship. France was missing their own Point, Mathieu Bernier, who was training in 8-way at that time. Coach Marin Ferre filled the slot, and it was impossible for the French lineup to keep up with Arizona Airspeed and Hayabusa in their original lineups.

Both teams will be in full strength at the Shamrock Showdown 2010, which begins with the first round Friday afternoon. Full strength means that both teams have trained in DeLand before the competition, and both teams have their coaches live on site, Joey Jones for Hayabusa and Marin Ferre for France.

France also has national Formation Skydiving coach Jerome David and national packer Fred "Toshiba" Leroux in their DeLand delegation. Jerome David arrived today and will observe the performance of both national teams at this competition.

The teams have been on a weather hold for most of the Thursday, and the POPS record participants spend their time dirtdiving. The 8-way competition draw will take place as soon as all three teams are at the competition site later today. Judy Celaya, Rina Gallo and Cherie Schuch will be the event judges.

The Hayabusa members promised to visit the NSL office again with a live review on camera after the competition. Part 2 of the NSL Talk can be found by clicking here, Part 3 by clicking here.