posted Nov 13th, 2007 - The NSL News has covered the activities of the PD Factory Team members quite a few times in the past. The last story on September 20 reported the gold and silver medals that the reigning 4-way world champions with DeLand Fire, Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo, won at the USPA Nationals 2007 in the Canopy Piloting event.

The USPA Nationals 2007 was the 4-way event where three PD Factory Team members, Shannon Pilcher, Ian Bobo and Jonathan Tagle, lost their title as the national 4-way champions. They had won the USPA Nationals 2006 with DeLand Groove. The same 3-way will still be the officially reigning 4-way world champions until the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2008 in France. However, they will not even be able to defend the title since Airspeed Odyssey won the USPA Nationals 2007 and will represent the USA in 4-way next year.

The time will come when the NSL News will not relate to these three Canopy Piloting competitors any longer as 4-way champions. Pilcher and Bobo are still involved in 4-way coaching and with player coaching projects, which keeps them in touch with the 4-way community. However, their main focus has recently been on Canopy Piloting competition and projects of the PD Factory Team.

Their activities in the new event have been very successful, as the NSL News has followed the path of the PD Factory Team members to date, and the first two places at the USPA Nationals 2007 were the latest evidence. New honors were now added to the collection of competition success for the PD Factory members.

The overall leaderboard at the end of the 4th World Cup in Canopy Piloting mirrors almost exactly the line-up of the PD Factory Team's website. The competition was held on November 7 - 11 in Sydney, Australia. Jay Moledzki won the first place of the overall rankings, Jonathan Tagle and Ian Bobo followed in 2nd and 3rd place. Shannon Pilcher ended up in 6th place. It was a sweep for the PD Factory Team that obviously still dominates the Canopy Piloting event.

Another world-class 4-way competitor competed in Australia last week. Pete Allum won the bronze medals with Italy's national 4-way team Sinapsi PD last year in Germany. He also competed for Italy at the World Cup of Canopy Piloting and made it to the top ten in the field of 57 competitors.

Italy has not selected its national 4-way team for 2008 yet, and Pete Allum may still have a chance to defend his bronze medal next year in France. Shannon Pilcher, Ian Bobo and Jonathan Tagle may be in France as Canopy Pilots or 4-way coaches. Congratulations to the PD Factory Team members and all winners of the event in Australia.