posted Mar 28th, 2007 - Airspeed Odyssey apparently likes Block 14 (Bipole - Bipole) and picks up speed and scoring points when the sequence requires a lot of individual flying. Round 5 (H-14-L-P) of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2007 was very similar to Round 8 (14-9-C) at the Valentine's Meet 2007. The scores were similar, as well (27 - 26).

The 27-pointer in DeLand also had a similar impact compared to the 26-pointer in Eloy. Airspeed added three points distance to France Maubeuge with the score of Round 8 in February. The 27-pointer of Round 5 in DeLand won two points over the Golden Knights and turned the 1-point lead of the Army team back into a 1-point advantage for Airspeed Odyssey.

It was a significant turning point in the competition between Odyssey and the Golden Knights who never won or even tied an Airspeed score throughout the remainder of the competition from here on. On the other side, the Arizona team never gave up the 1st place after the excellent performance in Round 5.

This still didn't mean that Odyssey won each following round, as Team Fastrax would show later on. However, Round 5 put Airspeed Odyssey obviously in a confident position. It was no big surprise that this outstanding performance would also win the Skins Game for Round 5.

SkySystems USA sponsored the round with $150 cash, a set of beer mugs and company T-shirts. Fastrax member Doug Park owns SkySystems and had to watch his company's contribution for the Skins Game being handed out to his team's toughest opponent.

Round 5 also decided the latest fierce battle between Optic Nerve and Teiwaz in the AAA Class competition. Both teams had posted exactly the same scores throughout the first four rounds. Dr. Joel Shugar, this time with Solly Williams, Gary Smith, Ian Bobo and Rickster Powell (Video) in his line-up, shook off the rival with a clean and fast 19-pointer and added more points to the distance from here on.

There was also a change in the AA Class competition. CSC Rhythm from the Midwest Skydiving League, with player coach Robert Chromy, had been going on its own pace from the very beginning. However, there was a serious competition going on between FSC Wind Damaged and Tunnel Chaos.

The FSL Shamrock Showdown 2007 was the first competition for the brandnew line-up with Ray Dutch, Scott Graham, Louie Palomares, Dalton Samulsen and Chris Ash (Video). All team members work as instructors in the SkyVenture Orlando wind tunnel. Tunnel Chaos had the career of the former tunnel team "DeLand Tunnel Rage" in mind when this new line-up was formed.

DeLand Tunnel Rage was the launching pad for Eliana Rodriguez and Thomas Hughes and won the AA/Intermediate Class competition at the USPA Nationals 2000 with a 15.3 average. The 7.3 average for Tunnel Chaos at the Shamrock Showdown 2007 is yet no reason to be discouraged for the current team members.

DeLand Tunnel Rage opened the team's victorious 2000 season with the same 7.3 average at the FSL season opener in January. In fact, Tunnel Rage did not get any further than to an 8.8 meet average in August 2000, less than two months before the USPA Nationals in Perris. However, the team was then ready to perform at the right time.

FSC Wind Damaged, with Gilles Dutrisac filling Mike Green's Outside Center slot this year, had already lost three rounds by one point each to Tunnel Chaos. Round 5 was also the turning point in this 2-team race. The Lake Wales team won its first round against the tunnel team and was ready for more.