posted Jul 31st, 2010 - It is about time for the first Fun Flag update from Menzelinsk in Russia, one day before the teams will begin with Round 1 at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

The Belgian team NMP-PCH Hayabusa had the last Fun Flag word at the World Meet 2008 in Maubeuge, France, and took it back home to Belgium. Hayabusa managed to keep possession of the flag after a very lively and exciting World Cup 2009 in Prostejov, Czech Republic.

The NSL News audience may remember one of the biggest and toughest battles for the Fun Flag after French videographer Sylvain Girault had dropped it from his parachute. The video of this battle is still available for reviews.

France could not defend the Fun Flag successfully in Prostejov. Hayabusa members used their Fun Flag experiences to get it back in time, as the NSL News reported on 8 September 2009: "The French delegation, who won all three sets of gold medals in the Formation Skydiving events, may have to evaluate how to take better care of the actual and most important part of the competition.

It was not a big surprise that Hayabusa Defence turned out as the winner of the competition. Coach and alternate, former Center Inside Luc Verstrepen, was already involved with the Fun Flag earlier in Prostejov and was apparently assigned by Hayabusa Defence to this important task. His military experiences in the Belgian army may have given him an advantage in coming up with a working strategy.

In addition, three of the Hayabusa members (David Grauwels, Andy Grauwels, Roy Janssen) already have broad experiences with the Fun Flag business. They were involved with the flag at the World Meet 2006 in Germany and left the competition site by then with the flag in their bag."

That was last year, however, the Hayabusa members are not only very experienced in the Fun Flag battle, they also know and value the ethics and the rules of the game. The Fun Flag was flying again in Dubai this year, as the NSL News reported on 17 January 2010.

Hayabusa once again did not need a reminder to bring the Fun Flag to Menzelinsk and show it early in public. The whole team presented it proudly to team videographer Danny Jacobs shortly after arrival.

This time, the flag was flying on top of the hotel where teams and competitors are accommodated. The hotel is approx. one hour away from the dropzone, and Hayabusa promised to move the flag to the place of the real action as soon as the competition would begin.

By the way, Hayabusa's trip from Switzerland to Russia was not as stressful as the NSL News had suspected. Belgium's military services included the transfer of the national team with its own plane. The photo shows that the Hayabusa members did have some time to relax.

Today is the official practice day in Menzelisnk, and the Fun Flag is not flying so far. It will probably make sense to look for it at an elevated location. It seems as if Hayabusa likes to set it up high.

There were already some inquiries by other experienced Fun Flag hunters as of the current location of the flag. Chances are good that the NSL News will be able to follow up soon with more interesting stories.