posted Jan 5th, 2007 - The NSL News story on August 7, 2005 (Archives > 2005 > News > search: Evolution), introduced the Canadian national 4-way team Evolution. The French Canadians from NouvelAir in the Montreal/Quebec area, with Martin Lemay (Inside Center), Michel Lemay (Outside Center), Vincent Lemay (Point), Francois Pigeon (Tail) and Peter Toutoudakis (Camera) in the line-up, had just won the Canadian Nationals 2005, as the NSL News story on August 1, 2005, had already reported.

The 10-round meet included a 32-pointer in Round 2, which was a new Canadian record in 4-way. Evolution replaced Stratosfear as the Canadian national 4-way team after winning the competition by 26 points with a 16.8 average.

Evolution had one year to prepare for the World Meet 2006 in Germany. Despite the job duties at their NouvelAir family business, the team planned to set new and higher Canadian standards for the international comeback of Michael Lemay.

Michel Lemay was one of the world's top competitors two decades ago. He competed with team Orisse in 1984 and represented Canada at the World Cup in LaPalisse, France. His teammates were none other than Neal Houston, Rob Laidlaw, and Daniel Paquette. Team Orisse won the gold medals, and Michel Lemay's name was engraved on the Excalibur sword later that year.

Team Evolution of 2005/2006, with father Michel and his two sons Martin and Vincent, had a top ten ranking and an 18-average in mind for the World Meet 2006. The goals were surely set to a very high level. However, the team had a lot of potential, and Michel's teammate of 1984, Airspeed veteran Neal Houston, was now assisting the team as the coach.

The 5-round meet at the World Meet 2006 in Germany did not allow the team to get to the desired 18.0 average. Evolution still made it into the top ten and finished tied with Spain in 9th position and a 16.8 average after the five rounds of the shortened competition in Germany. The jumps can still be viewed on the event page.

The 9th place was the best placement for a Canadian 4-way team since 1991 (8th), and only Michel Lemay with Orisse has ever placed better than that in 1984.

The Lemay 4-way family was far from being done after the successful 2006 season. In fact, Michel Lemay already told the NSL News in Germany last year that he plans to bring his youngest son, Benoit Lemay, into the line-up for the upcoming years.

He followed up on this plan when Francois Pigeon's slot became available at the end of the 2006 season. 15-year old Benoit Lemay was already an active member of the team when Evolution visited DeLand last week for the first winter training camp.

It was not a complete family affair yet since Martin Lemay (Outside Center) was not available for this camp. Donald Poulin filled the slot and will be a trained alternate for Evolution this year. New coach Shannon Pilcher was jumping with the team during the first days of the camp, as well.

The Canadian national team's complete line-up, with father Michel (Center Inside), Martin (Center Outside), Vincent (Point) and Benoit (Tail), will make its first training jump with all four family members in March 2007. The NSL News will have the chance to witness this very unique situation, and NSL-TV will hopefully be able to feature a few jumps of the team.

The three Lemays and Donald Poulin already visited the NSL office for a live interview before the end of the training camp in DeLand and answered some questions. Michel Lemay introduced his line-up and himself before the youngsters added personal information.

The interview offers very interesting insights of a very special and unique family operation. The Fun Flag story of the World Meet 2006 in Germany is a topic, as well. The video of the interview can be viewed by clicking here.