posted Apr 1st, 2011 - It all began at the FlowHouse where Arizona Airspeed and XL members enjoyed their Friday afternoon. Airspeed was done with the training, while XL would go back into the flying chamber for the official training session. XL had completed approx. 1.5 hours of training in the past few days and used every minute to get ready for the World Challenge 2011.

It became suspicious when Steve Hamilton and Pete Allum were quite secretive when the NSL-TV camera approached them right before the last training session. They had a plan for something that nobody knew about.

Only the XL members apparently knew about some additional dive pool changes that were recently added and not published timely by the IPC Competition Committee. Only XL had the opportunity to practise the new blocks and random formations, and they used their limited time together sufficiently, as the new NSL-TV video clip shows.

Bodyflight Black Majik must have known about the new maneuvers, as well, which would not be a surprise since host Paul Mayer is a team member and well connected. Black Majik and XL had quite a few similar formations and maneuvers in their reportiore.

All other teams were caught by surprise and have very limited time left to study and train the new flying techniques. This was most likely the XL intention and the reason for being so secretive about the training plan.

The NSL News asked XL members after the flying session, and they admitted the tricky plan. They had actually tried earlier to hurt the strongest opponent, Arizona Airspeed, by luring Airspeed members into the FlowHouse surf. Josh Hall wiped out badly and is out for the competition. It did not help XL much though since Andy Delk did not do much better and shares the same room in the hospital with Josh Hall now. Airspeed and XL are both looking for Teiwaz members to fill the slots...