posted Dec 21st, 2006 - This week's NSL News stories covered mostly the surprising personnel changes and events in the Airspeed Odyssey and Fastrax headquarters. Both teams are expected to be top contenders at any 4-way competition next year and at the next World Meet, as well. Thus, the special NSL News attention was not very surprising to the NSL audience.

In fact, several requests for more information and recent videos underlined the relevance of the coverage. The NSL News created additional suspense after mentioning realistic chances for the showing of brandnew Fastrax training videos with the new line-up.

Fastrax and NSL News have now followed up on the promise, and the team provided the footage of two training jumps. They were uploaded yesterday and can now be viewed on NSL-TV. The first video shows the very first training jump with Thomas Hughes in his new slot. It was an easy warm-up sequence for the whole team at the beginning of the training camp (H-B-D-7).

The second video shows the new line-up a day later with a technically much more challenging sequence (18-P-11). Fastrax did not hesitate to step right into the more serious tasks. Veteran coach Gary Smith worked with the team throughout the whole training camp, and his presence offered the opportunity for the first new technical input.

In fact, Fastrax founder John Hart explained later that Gary Smith will work with his team throughout the whole 2007 season. Team Fastrax was working mostly without much external input in the past, due to the high-profile player coaching situation. The strategy has changed for the 2007 season, and Gary Smith will be the head coach.

The NSL News also used the opportunity of the Fastrax visit in DeLand for an interview with the team.

John Hart, Niklas Hemlin, Thomas Hughes and Steve Redinbo took some extra time after yesterday's training and made the 3-minute trip from the drop zone to the NSL office.

Doug Park had to take care of his business work at SkySystems. The new line-up will make Skydive DeLand its home for several of the training camps.

Doug Park, Thomas Hughes and coach Gary Smith are DeLand residents. John Hart, Niklas Hemlin and Steve Redinbo will make it easier for their team mates by traveling to DeLand.

The first part of the NSL-TV interview can be viewed by clicking here. It provides a lot of information as of the team plans and gets across some of the excitement after the very successful first days of the training camp.

The interview begins with an unexpected review of a 4-way video. The NSL News has recently explored Thomas Hughes' slot history in different teams. However, one team was missing in his 4-way career.

Thomas Hughes experimented in 2005 in a new area. Former DeLand Majik member Joey Jones had put together the Black Magick 4-way back-flying team, and Thomas Hughes had much fun after joining the team.

Black Magick competed at the July meet of the Florida Skydiving League 2005 at Skydive City. One of the team's meet videos can still be viewed on NSL-TV by navigating to this event (Archives > 2005 > Leagues > Florida > Meet 5 Results).

Some of the Fastrax members had not seen this video before and were surely impressed by the back-flying skills of the Black Magick members, including Thomas Hughes.

The video of the 17-minute interview was split into two different parts, and the first part can now be viewed by clicking here. The NSL News will follow up soon with the second part of the interview.