posted Mar 20th, 2004 - The FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004 surely felt like a miniature version of a world meet on the first day of the competition. Teams from seven different nations competed at Skydive DeLand on Saturday. DeLand Majik, Sebastian Teiwaz, DeLand Mojo, Optic Nerve, FSC JAMMM and the Rookies represented the USA. Sinapsi PD is Italy's national 4-way team. The Danez will represent Denmark and Team 42 Sweden at this year's world meet. V2 is a British contender for the United Kingdom's 2004 slot in Croatia, and 4Motion is a UK team, as well. The 4Tunates are from the Netherlands, and four teams from Norway competed in the FSL 4-way Scramble meet.

Many eyes were on the competition between DeLand Majik and Sinapsi PD. Both teams are expected to be two of the three strongest contenders for the medals at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in September 2004. Majik, Sinapsi and France Maubeuge seem to make the 2004 trio that will compete for gold, silver and bronze in Croatia. The order of the rankings might be the only open question. The 2003 world meet had Norway (DeLand Norgies) and the United Kingdom (Sebastian XL) in the race for the medals, as well. Both teams discontinued and reduced the 2004 top competition apparently to only the three teams from France, the USA and Italy.

Two of these three 2004 top contenders attended the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004 to get the first test of the new season. It was not the first time that Majik and Sinapsi competed with each other. In fact, both teams have a long history of meets they attended together.

Event	Date	DeLandMajik	SinapsiPD	Difference
FSL Shamrock Showdown 2002	March 2002	22.6	17.8	4.8
World Cup of Formation Skydiving2002	October 2002	22.4	19.0	3.4
FSL Shamrock Showdown 2003	March 2003	22.1	21.3	0.8
Malevsky Memorial WorldCup 2003	July 2003	21.0	20.1	0.9
NSL Championship 2003	November 2003	21.8	19.7	2.1
FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004	March 2004	21.3	20.4	0.9

The table of the meet scores and the chart of the scoring difference shows clearly that the Italian national team has come a long way since March 2002 and undoubtedly a lot closer to Majik. However, these numbers also seem to show that the distance has not changed between March 2003 and March 2004. A closer look at another record between the two teams still shows a different perspective for the same time period. Sinapsi was closer than ever before (0.8 average) in March 2003. The Italian team managed to beat Majik in two of the eight rounds in DeLand and tied the home team in another round.

The average difference was very similar with 0.9 points after ten rounds in Russia the same year. Sinapsi beat Majik only once and tied the Majik scores three times at the Malevsky Memorial Cup 2003. Finally, the difference between the two teams was 0.9 points once again last weekend in DeLand after ten rounds. However, this time Sinapsi won three single rounds and tied Majik in another one. Even though the meet averages and their differences do not really show that Sinapsi PD is moving closer, there are obviously signs which indicate a tougher competition for Majik quite soon. Will it be close enough for the Italian team to compete with Majik and France for the gold medal in September?

Malevsky Memorial World Cup 2004

Both teams will have another showdown in June/July at the Malevsky Memorial World Cup 2004. This meet will offer new numbers and ideas. The most exciting part of the meet in Russia is the fact that France Maubeuge has signed up, as well. It gets even better: the NSL News will also travel to Russia and offer the same coverage as from the Mondial 2003 last year. The NSL News will soon follow up with the latest information of the world class event in Russia.

Arianna DeBenedetti with Optic Curvacious at SkyQuest 2003

The situation at the Malevsky Memorial World Cup 2004 will be different and better for both teams. DeLand Majik and Sinapsi PD both had to deal with difficulties at their last two direct confrontations. Majik missed Joey Jones on the first day of the competition at the NSL Championship 2003. Sinapsi PD came to Fantasy of Flight after nights of many grave-yard tunnel hours at SkyVenture Orlando. Point Livio Piccolo was sick, and Arianna DeBenedetti had double duties with Optic Curvacious. The team was tired at SkyQuest 2003.

Sinapsi PD at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004 awards

The situation was difficult for both teams once again at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004. Majik members Joey Jones and Doug Park had double duties with Optic Nerve, while Solly Williams and Gary Smith were coaching other teams at the same time. Sinapsi PD had their own troubles. Center outside deBenedetti seriously injured her left knee when she was water skiing a few weeks ago. She tore and strained different ligaments in her left knee and needs surgery soon. However, the brave Italian supported the injured knee with a sophisticated cast and made the last training and the competition in DeLand. Her knee will be repaired when the team returns to Italy.

Optic Nerve with Joey Jones and Doug Park in the center

All these kind of obstacles and distractions will hopefully be out of the way when both teams travel to Russia at the end of June. DeLand Majik and Sinapsi PD both need to be in great shape when they will face the current world champion from France for the first time in 2004. The NSL News will follow up with more pre-views of the Malevsky Cup. First, there is much more information to cover the whole FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004. Stay tuned.