posted Mar 10th, 2008 - The Bodyflight Bedford meet management just informed the NSL News that one team slot has become available for the World Challenge 2008. The British team Innuendo had to withdraw, which opened a slot for another team.

Bodyflight Bedford has set a cut at the total number of 40 teams, and the slots for the popular windtunnel competition filled up quickly. The names of the 39 currently registered teams can be found at the event page. The 40th slot can be secured by getting in touch with Bodyflight Bedford's management.

The FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 has the team cut at a total of 24 teams. The record participation of 22 registered teams still leaves room for two more teams.

The FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 is not the only competition this weekend. Brazil launches its 2008 season at the same time and with the same competition draw, as league organizer Fábio Diniz confirmed for the NSL News. The complete 2008 schedule of the 4-way league series in Brazil is posted at the league page.

Fábio Diniz is also a member of the Brazilian national 4-way team, CTR Optimum. His team recently completed its first training camp of 2008 in Arizona. CTR Optimum trains and competes with the same lineup this year: Andre Ferraz (Point), Pedro Ushizima Jr. (Center Inside), Fabio Diniz (Tail), Ziara Abud (Center Outside), Renato "Gordinho" Acerbi (Camera).

Coach Craig Girard introduced the Pilatus Porter to the national team at this camp since CTR Optimum will represent Brazil at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving in France this year. The team completed six hours of windtunnel training and almost 40 jumps in six days of training.

Fábio Diniz reported that the main focus was set on the exits and B-slot training. As many other national teams, CTR Optimum is used to exits from a left-hand door (Cessna Caravan, Twinotter) and has to go through the same learning phase from the Pilatus Porter.

The team plans for 2008 include another camp at Skydive Arizona before the World Championship and training in Brazil, as well. The Brazilian Nationals 2008 will be held in September this year. The same CTR Optimum lineup will try to win the national 4-way title for the sixth consecutive time.

The upcoming season opener in Brazil will show the results of the first training camp for CTR Optimum. The Brazilian team aims at a 16.0 average in 2008. The AAA Class competition at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 will make it very challenging for any team to make it into the top ten of the upcoming meet weekend's leaderboard...