posted Jan 26th, 2007 - Norway's national 4-way team Arcteryx was not the only visitor to Florida from the same Scandinavian country last week. Norway's national 4-way team in the female category was holding a training camp in DeLand at the same time, and the NSL News invited the team to the NSL office for another live interview.

Norway Valkyrie consists of Anne Simone Botten (Point), Cathrine Lie Tunes (Tail), Kristin Opoien (Center Inside), Trude Sviggum (Center Outside) and Anne Sofie Boe on camera. It is exactly the same line-up that represented Norway at the World Meet 2006 in Germany.

Valkyrie finished tied with Ukraine and Switzerland in 7th place, one point behind Netherlands in 6th place. These four national teams battled it out over the five rounds in Germany, and Valkyrie had a 12.6 average on the scoreboard in August 2006.

The World Meet 2006 was actually not the most important event for the Norwegian all-female team last year. All team members are actually officers in the Norwegian military service, and they were eligible to compete at the Military CISM event in Russia last year. Valkyrie made the trip to Russia before the World Meet in Germany and won the bronze medals behind the USA and Russia.

The NSL News interview began with the team name. The team members explained that they found a name that fits perfectly to the team's purpose and the duties.

The dictionary defines a Valkyrie of the Scandinavian mythology as a "maiden who served Odin as chooser of slain warriors, who were taken to reside in Valhalla".

The Valkyrie members decided at the end of the 2006 season to continue with the team after a successful first year. Two winter training camps with coach Gary Smith will help to lift the skills and performance to a new and significantly higher scoring level early in 2007.

The second training camp in April will most likely include the first competition in 2007, the April meet of the Florida Skydiving League. Valkyrie also plans to attend the World Cup 2007 in Russia, which will not be covered by the Norwegian government, while the training jumps of the female officers are paid for by the Norwegian military.

However, the most important event for Valkyrie in 2007 is the Military World Games in India in October, which includes 13 different sports. 4-way Formation Skydiving competition and Accuracy are a part of the event.

The Norwegian female team always trains the whole IPC dive pool. The military CISM program includes only eight of the 22 blocks (4, 7, 10, 11, 13, 19, 21, 22) and all random formations. The sequences are different, as well. Each competition jump begins with a Star as the exit formation, followed by two random formations and one block. The Star is always the exit formation, and the working time of 35 seconds begins five seconds after the exit or with the break of the Star.

The team members are familiar with the IPC dive pool of the Open Class. In fact, Kristin Opoien and Trude Sviggum were both members of other Norwegian line-ups in the past. Trude Sviggum won the silver medals of the female category at the World Meets in 2001 and 2003, both times together with current Acteryx member Ditta Valsdottir.

Kristin Opoien joined the "Norgie Girls" for her first international medals at the World Meet in 2003. Norway did not have a female line-up at the World Meet in Croatia 2004, and Valkyrie was formed at the end of the 2005 season. Kristin Opoien and Trude Sviggum are back together in a new line-up and have already won another set of medals at the Military World Meet in 2006.

Valkyrie has plans for the 2007 season until the completition of the Military World Games. The participation at the World Meet in 2008 depends on the financial situation. If the team continues after the end of the 2007 season, the medal positions will probably be in reach. The video of the whole interview can be viewed by clicking here.