posted Aug 23rd, 2007 - Norway's national 4-way team Arcteryx was probably not overly excited with the team's scores and rankings at the FAI World Cup 2007. Tore Buer (Center Inside), Ole Petter Hjelle (Tail), Ditta Valsdottir (Point), Derek Broughton (Point) and Mikjel Skurdal (Camera) may have hoped for a medal, either of the World Cup or the European Championship. At least, the plan was to stay in touch with the other top teams.

The 5th place at the World Cup 2007 and 4th place at the European Championship 2007 with a 20.3 average in Russia was not only far away from any medal position. The Norwegian team also allowed national teams of other countries to improve their positions. Belgium's Hayabusa Defence had finished behind Arcteryx at the World Meet in Germany 2006 and now won the gold medals in Russia. Germany's new 4-way team cut the distance to Norway to only six points at the World Cup 2007 after finishing far behind Arcteryx last year in Germany.

However, there is still no reason for Arcteryx to be discouraged. The 2007 season was the first 4-way year with Arcteryx for the new team member, Derek Broughton, in the point position. The NSL News story on January 23 had introduced the former world-class freeflyer and the new line-up with a live interview. This year was supposed to form the team and collect as many experiences together as possible.

The possibly disappointing Arcteryx experience at the World Cup 2007 was followed by a much more encouraging event just a week later. Arcteryx won the Norwegian Nationals 2007 with a 20.5 average. It sounds like nothing extraordinary, and it still has its special meanings.

The DeLand Norgies, 3-time bronze medal winners at the World Meets in 1999, 2001 and 2003, celebrated another reunion with the original line-up of 1999 at the Norwegian Nationals 2007, and the pressure was on Arcteryx. The Norgies had won last year's reunion at the national championship (18.8 - 18.2) and would not let Arcteryx win this year's event easily.

However, Arcteryx was too strong and well trained two weeks ago, and the scores were more impressive, compared to the World Cup 2007. It was a slow competition draw, and Norway's national team still posted scores above 20 points for each round, except in Round 6 (12-J-6). The missing two rounds for a 10-round meet would have been most likely on the faster side, and the 20.5 average might have gone up to a new team record.

The DeLand Norgies could not keep up with that performance level, at least not in the beginning of the meet. Arcteryx clearly dominated throughout the first five rounds and had a 10-point lead. Then the Norgies had warmed up enough, picked up the pace and won the last three rounds by a total of three points. The 19.6 average was only one point behind the Norgies' meet average at the World Meet in France 2003 (20.6) where they won their last bronze medals for Norway.

Fact is still that Arcteryx was finally able to beat the Norgies. The meet had a dramatic start, as the Norgies lost three points by a techical penalty after Round 1. The team rode down with the plane due to a layer of clouds between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. The meet director, who had promised earlier that all teams would get re-jumps in case on non-judgeable videos due to meterological conditions, did not consider the teams reasoning to be valid and awarded them a 20% penalty, which reduced the Norgies' score from 19 to 16 points for the meet opener.

Arcteryx member Ole Petter Hjelle was pleased with the growing interest in 4-way competition this year in Norway:

"We are happy to see that there is a tremendous interest for Formation Skydiving competition in Norway. Arcteryx had 35 participants at our skills camp in Deland over Easter, and our camps in Norway over the summer attract between 30 and 40 participants, as well. In addition to this, we have tunnel camps in Bedford where we coached around 170 hours over four short camps during the fall. We are also proud of the fact that our small country has two 4-way teams that are able to score a 20+ average. Much of this is due to the long-term program set forth by our governing body many years ago, where the national team receives substantial funding and support."

The 2007 season is not over for Arcteryx yet. After a wet and cold summer in northern Europe the team is now heading back to sunny Florida for a training camp before the USPA Nationals 2007. Arcteryx will compete as a guest team and hopes for the first faster draw of the team's 2007 season.