posted Dec 21st, 2006 - The 2006 season was very quiet for AZ Directe. In fact, the team did not attend any meets this year at all. The team name was mentioned only once when the NSL News story on March 4 announced that former AZ Directe member Brian Vande Krol handed over the Colorado Skydiving League management to Travis Roth.

AZ Directe's 2005 line-up (Gary Beyer, Kirk Campbell, Courtney Frasch, Brian Vande Krol, Gordon Lindsay on camera) attended two meets of the Southwest Skydiving League 2005 (15.2 - 16.0) and finished in 14th position at the USPA Nationals 2005 with a 14.2 average. One of the team's SSL meet jumps in 2005 can still be viewed on NSL-TV (click here).

AZ Directe is now planning a comeback for the 2007 season with a new line-up. Multiple world champion John Eagle has joined his former Airspeed teammate, Gary Beyer, as second player-coach on AZ Directe, along with Kirk Campell and Samer Haija, and Gordon Lindsay on camera.

John Eagle, who has world titles in both 4-way and 8-way, left Airspeed in 2003 but rejoined them for the USPA Nationals 2006, as did Beyer, to take the gold medals in 16-way. He was one of the earliest members of Airspeed and joined his first Airspeed line-up, Airspeed Vortex, in 1995, just before Gary Beyer moved to Eloy, as well.

Along with John Hamilton and Craig Girard, the former and new teammates averaged 19+ in 1996 with Airspeed Vortex. They posted a 20.6 average with Airspeed Purple at the USPA Nationals 1999, with Alan Metni in John Hamilton's place.

John Eagle went on to join the Airspeed Vertical line-up in 2000 and won the USPA Nationals that year with a 21.3 average. Gary Beyer took a break from competition for a year to take his commercial pilot's license. John Eagle retired from competition in 2003 to focus on rock climbing.

Gary Beyer has run his own coaching business after leaving Airspeed in 2002 and has worked together with current or former Airspeed members. The AZ Directe 2007 project is his reunion with John Eagle since leaving Airspeed.

AZ Directe's only remaining 2005 members, Kirk Campbell and Gary Beyer, have also jumped together over the years. They took USPA's Advanced Class bronze medals in 2003 with Warp Factor and a 14.2 average. Gary Beyer was player-coach at the Center Inside position, working together with Kirk Campbell in the Center Outside slot. Becky Brocato, this year's Synchronicity member, flew the Point position for Warp Factor, and Mark Allen was the Tail.

Arizona Directe was officially formed in 2004 and attended two meets of the Southwest Skydiving League (13.7 - 15.2). Gary Beyer, Becky Brocato, Courtney Frasch, Kirk Campbell and Gordon Lindsay (camera) finished tied in 7th position with Synchronicity and a 15.3 average at the USPA Nationals 2004 in the AAA/Open Class. Former Colorado Skydiving League Director Brian Vande Krol replaced Becky Brocato for the 2005 season.

4th and new AZ Directe member is Samer Haija who directed the Colorado Skydiving League before Brian Vande Krol. Samer Haija competed with team Spark at the USPA Nationals 2005, together with Mark Kirkby, Chris Farina, Dave Burton and Steve Nowak on camera. Spark posted a 14.4 average with Samer Haija in the Point position.

AZ Directe's 2007 line-up has John Eagle back in his Point slot, which increases the experience level of the team significantly. Samer Haija switches to the rear piece and will be the team's Tail. AZ Directe has a full training and competition schedule for 2007, with around 300 jumps and 20+ hours of wind tunnel time at Skydive Arizona. Gary Beyer and Kirk Campbell will once again control the center in their former slots. Gordon Lindsay will remain as AZ Directe's videographer.

The NSL News will soon follow up with 2007 plans and the schedule of the Southwest Skydiving League.