posted Aug 6th, 2004 - Wednesday was the first day for all five DeLand Majik members back in their hometown in Florida. Majik fans close to the team were aware of this late homecoming after the Majik success at the Malevsky Cup 2004 almost five weeks ago. The local fan club had prepared a surprise party for the team members at the "Perfect Spot", Skydive DeLand's drop zone restaurant.

It was almost exactly one year ago when the same party took place at the same spot and for the same reason. Many local skydivers and industry representatives visited Skydive DeLand to celebrate Majik's victory at the the Malevsky Cup in 2003 and came out again Wednesday night. Host Bob Hallet and DeLand Majik sponsors SkyVenture Orlando, Alti-2 and Performance Designs provided a free buffet, while adult beverages were served, including Russian vodka.

Majik's videographer, Graham Harding, was the first team member arriving after the end of Majik's training camp in Stupino that followed the competition. The DeLand team used the opportunity of being in Russia to add another 120 training jumps from the MI-8 helicopter, which will also be used as the jump plane at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in September in Croatia.

Each of the DeLand Majik members has been a very experienced and successful coach for many years. The end of the training camp in Russia was not the end of the trip for the team members. Majik's Tail, Solly Williams, traveled almost around the whole world to complete his summer/winter camps with other teams.

His trip to Australia right after Russia moved him into the cold winter season on the other side of the planet. The next stop for Williams was the United Kingdom for the British national championship. The NSL News will follow up with the scores of this event within the next few days.

Point Gary Smith traditionally spends most of the summer season with coaching jobs in the Netherlands, which was also his next stop after the Malevsky Cup this year. Center Inside Doug Park went almost as far as Williams with his SkyVenture tunnel business trip to Malaysia, while Center Outside Joey Jones visited Scandinavia.

The whole team finally made it back to DeLand on Tuesday. Harding's wife Barbara was the organizer of the surprise party and had nicely set up and decorated the celebration part at the Perfect Spot. With the help of the Skydive DeLand staff the party turned out once again as a great social event for DeLand's skydiving community.

DeLand Majik did not get a lot of rest though. The next training camp on home turf began yesterday. It is the last stretch on the way to the most important event of the 2004 season. Solly Williams explained that the team enjoyed the party and that Majik is still fully aware of the fact that the season is far from being over.

"The Malevsky Cup was just one step on the way. There is still work to do before we will travel to Croatia. Then we will do what we can to repeat the success of the Malevsky Cup. However, there surely is no guarantee that this will happen. We will have to give it our best shot once again." The party is over, this year's US national team DeLand Majik is back in the air with Skydive DeLand's Skyvan getting ready for the next and ultimate battle with France Maubeuge in Croatia.