posted Feb 1st, 2008 - It is very difficult to decide in which order the teams competing at the World Challenge 2008 should be introduced. The field of teams is so interesting and diversified that the choice of the next story itself requires some thoughts.

The number of teams has recently gone up to a total of 32, which did not surprise Bodyflight Bedford's owner, Paul Mayer. He is ready to accommodate a total of 40 teams. Denmark's national 4-way team of the past years, Danish Blaze, and an additional French lineup signed up for the windtunnel competition in the AAA Class at the end of March. Four British teams registered for the AA Class, which has now become much more competitive.

The new lineup from France continues with the French skydiving vacation, which was already initiated at the USPA Nationals 2007. Maubeuge Holidays is a new pickup team, this time only for the World Challenge 2008. Erwan Pouliquen, coach and member of the French national 8-way team, 4-way world champion of 2003, gets his next skydiving vacation and has three different members in Bedford.

Maubeuge Holidays has both French national Formation Skydiving coaches in the lineup. Marin Ferré is currently the national 4-way coach. He won 4-way gold medals for France at the world meets in Australia 1999 and France 2003. Erwan Pouliquen and Marin Ferré won Excalibur together in 2003.

The third member is another reigning 8-way world champion. Bruno Perin is Erwan Pouliquen's 8-way teammate and won the gold medals for France at the world meet in Germany 2006. Only the fourth person on Maubeuge Holidays has not won international medals yet. Jean Debièvre is a retired member of the French B-Team group.

It will be a real skydiving vacation for the team. Maubeuge Holidays has no training plans for the event and will not continue after it. The members have just signed up to have fun with the group. However, there is no doubt that both national coaches will observe the other top teams at the competition in Bedford.

The four new British teams in the AA Class have brought the total to eight teams in this category. Six of the seven British teams competed already in 2007, only Kaizen is a new team name.

Block Party (8.5), Escondido (8.6) and Fend 4 Yourself (8.9) all competed in the AA Class competition last year. They will be eager to compete again with each other, as these three teams were only separated by three points (8.9 - 8.6 - 8.5) at the UK Nationals 2007.

Baccanalia and Phobia competed in the A Class throughout the 2007 season and placed on the top level of the field (Baccanalia 6th - 10.3, Phobia 4th - 12.3) at the UK Nationals 2007. Phobia also represented the UK delegation in the same competition class at the ESL Championship 2007 in September. The World Challenge 2008 will see both teams compete in the next competition class up for the first time.

Innuendo will make an even bigger step in March. The British team competed in the Rookie Class last year and has signed up for the AA Class competition at the World Challenge 2008.

All seven British teams in the AA Class will face a very interesting challenger from the USA. Team Future consists of two children (Kayla Tinucci - 11, Justin Tinucci - 8) who compete with their two instructors in 4-way (Brad Cole, Daniel Perry). The NSL News will follow up with more information.