posted Feb 2nd, 2011 - It's time to replace the drawings and theories of Block 1 (Snowflake - Snowflake) and Block 13 (Offset - Spinner) with real action.

It is neither the German Open Class team Paratec-Saar nor the female ISB Air lineup that provides the first impressions. The footage came from Russia, and the studies of the new moves begin with windtunnel training.

A team update came along with the videos. The sad news is the fact that Kaktus Hunter has disbanded.

The good news is a new and strong Russian 4-way lineup with two former Kaktus Hunters, Egor Gusev and Andrew Kharitonov.

Egor Gusev and Andrew Kharitonov have teamed up with two former Ocean 5 members, Yuri Drozdov and Dmitriy Samokhval who was also an Evolution Pro 8-way member between 2003 and 2006. Kaktus Hunter's videographer Mansur Mustafin is filming the new team.

This lineup has begun with tunnel training, which included the two new blocks, and made the videos available for the NSL News. The first video shows only the new Block 13, and the Russian team uses the technique where the center piece turns backward.

Time will tell whether this technique will become the most popular one or not. The single flyers have to turn more than only 540' if the center piece completes its 360' turn, as the video shows. Another technique, with the center piece rotating forward, will allow the single flyers to sheer and reduce the degree of turn for the center piece as well as for the single flyers.

The modified Block 1 (Snowflake - Snowflake) does not offer big surprises. The video shows that the popular technique for the previous Block 1 is almost identical with the new one. Only the traveling distances of the pieces are slightly longer and critical.

Egor Gusev, Andrew Kharitonov, Yuri Drozdov and Dmitriy Samokhval show more of their skills in the third video clip below. The new team is still looking for a name that they can use for the first time at the World Challenge 2011.

Egor Gusev confirmed that the new team will go back to the place where Kaktus Hunter traveled to in the past years and compete in Bedford in April. He also expressed his appreciation for the Kaktus Hunter members and supporters.

Egor Gusev's Farewell to Kaktus Hunter

"The Kaktus Hunter's project is closed. We have started with 12.3 five years ago and have finished with a 21.6 average. It was a long way. I am proud of that we became the first non professional team (weekend team) in Russia which has shown results above 21. Thanks to all who supported us and endured with us throughout all these years. Special thanks to our coach Andy Delk, without him we wouldn't have reached such results.

I also want to say many thanks to my first RW coach and team mate Andrew Kharitonov and all Arizona Airspeed members: Mark Kirkby, Gary Bayer, Todd Hawkins, Craig Girard, Andy Honigbaum, Thomas Hughes, Brian Johnson, Eliana Rodrigues and Andy Delk for hours and hours in the tunnel and in the air. They have taught me to jump.

Endless thanks to my team mates Andrew, Katya, Anya, Mansur and OkSi ;) Without each of you there would be no Kaktus and without each of you there is no Kaktus..."