posted Jan 24th, 2004 - The NSL News interviewed Sebastian XL member Pete Allum in November last year. The full-time coach and world class competitor had just moved to DeLand and was hired as the new national coach of the Danish 4-way team. Allum mentioned in the interview that "the team will make 800 – 1000 jumps each year, up to 2006." He added that the team has great plans: "The objective is to stand on the podium in 2006." The NSL News followed up on the interview with the Danish project manager, Flemming Nøddegaard and asked for more information. Nøddegaard provided the NSL News with a copy of the project documentation.

The Danish 4-way skydiving project is supported by "Team Danmark", a government organization that offers all Danish top athletes of any sport financial help to pursue higher athletic goals. Nøddegaard is the "Sportschef" ofr the skydiving project. He used to be a team member of the Danish 4-way team that competed on the world class medal level years ago. Team "Touche" was also supported by the same organization and surprised the whole skydiving world when they won the bronze medal at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in 1993 with a 16.9 meet average.

The Danish team of 1993 was closer to the silver medal (U.S.A. - 18.2 average) than to the 4th place (Finland - 14.9 average). The Scandinavian teams had a strong showing at this 1993 World Meet in Eloy with Denmark in 3rd place, Finland in 4th place and Sweden in 5th place (14.9 average). Norway had not even made the move up to the 4-way top level by then. Denmark was not done after this great success in 1993. The team continued for two more years and repeated the bronze medal effort in 1995 with a 17.9 average. France (20.7 average) and the U.S.A. (20.5 average) had now moved further away. However, the third place was still in strong Danish hands. Norway took the 4th place this time with a 17.1 average. It was the beginning of the Norwegian project toward the World Meet 4-way medals.

The Danish world class team was done after the two bronze medals in 1993 and 1995. There was no back-up, and the next Danish national team posted a 9.9 average in 24th place at the World Meet in 1997. The average performance of Danish teams at the World Meets continued between 1997 and 2001 (13th place with 13.1 average in 1999, 19th place with 9.5 average in 2001).

The 4-way business in Denmark seemed to get fresh air when a new and eager team was formed in 2002. The "Bionicles" showed up at the April competition of the Florida Skydiving League 2002 and posted a 10.8 meet average. This was surely not the most impressive meet average. However, Pete Allum's coaching signature was already visible with a clean and controlled performance. The team's line-up and name changed for the 2003 season. The "Sebastian Danez" now attended the FSL 2003 meets in January (13.8 average) and March (14.5 average). Pete Allum was still the coach of an already much improved team.

The same team represented Denmark at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving, the Mondial 2003 in France, and finished with another new team record of 15.0 average after ten rounds in Gap. This result was still only enough for the 12th place at the Mondial 2003. However, the progression between 2002 and 2003 was impressive and promising. Team Denmark was now convinced that this Danish line-up deserved support. The new national coach, Pete Allum, was hired for the time of the project, which aims at the World Meet in 2006.

Sportschef Flemming Nøddegaard had evaluated the history of former Danish teams carefully before the presentation of the new project to his organization. The success of the team in 1993 and 1995 was convincing that a small country can make it to the top level with talent, money and a good plan. There was still a flaw in the system at that time since there was no back-up when the team discontinued. Nøddegaard has learned enough just from this Danish 4-way history. He has a better plan for the new project. The top team will be supported and challenged by several farm teams. Nøddegaard and Allum hope that this will create the foundation for continuity and consistency. The NSL News will continue with the coverage of this interesting project and introduce the details of the plan soon. An interview with the team members is on the agenda, as well.