posted Apr 1st, 2011 - Arizona Airspeed had a training session late on Friday morning before the World Challenge 2011. It was not the official training session, which begins later this afternoon. That's the time when Bodyflight Bedford sets the specific air speed for each team.

Airspeed shared the tunnel time with Perris Jimani, the third US team in the AA Class competition of the World Challenge 2011. SDC Rhythm XP is the second AAA Class team that represents the US 4-way competition.

The video clip includes a freeflying performance by Thomas Hughes, the "King of the Tunnel" when he was working at SkyVenture Orlando many years ago.

Airspeed had a sequence of only random formations in the training plan for the tunnel session, and there is a good reason for it. Paul Mayer confirmed for the NSL News that the World Challenge rules require one sequence of only random formations as a part of the competition draw.

Paul Mayer said that a fast sequence of only random formations brings an additional twist to a 4-way competition, and he surely has a good point with that. A very fast round can turn a competition significantly, and last year's World Challenge had a perfect example for that situation.

Arizona Airspeed had a terrible Round 2 (J,M,E,D,L) and lost the meet before it had really begun. Perris Fury stole the maximum of 11 points only in Round 2. Airspeed had to use the remaining eight rounds trying to catch up with several teams that jumped ahead, and it was still far from being enough to get anywhere close to the top. The reigning 4-way world champions by then ended up in 5th place.

The new Airspeed lineup is aware of the situation, and Mark Kirkby surely remembers last year's event. In fact, two of the new Airspeed members, Thomas Hughes (XL) and Josh Hall (Perris Fury), took advantage of Airspeed's Round 2 weakness last year. Airspeed 2010 member Andy Delk will try to be on the other side this weekend. XL 2010 beat him by two points in Round 2 and by eight points after ten rounds. This year's XL lineup with Andy Delk will try to give Airspeed a hard time once again. Last year's XL member Thomas Hughes has switched indoor lineups with Andy Delk and will now try to help bring back fast-sequence honor to Airspeed.