posted Sep 20th, 2007 - The 2007 season has once again been a hybrid project for Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo, members of the PD Factory Team. Both former DeLand Fire members are still the reigning 4-way world champions, even though they have not trained and competed much at all in 4-way after the World Meet 2006 in Germany.

Both world-class 4-way jumpers and canopy pilots traveled all over the world this year with the PD Factory Team to compete at swooping events and continue with their 4-way coaching projects at the same time. One of the coaching projects took place in Spain and was called "The Project". Shannon Pilcher reported in the last PD Factory Team's newsletter:

The Project 2007

By the PD Factory Team

PD Factory pilots Ian Bobo and Shannon Pilcher recently had the privilege of joining Pete Allum and Anne Maxwell (Inner Rhythm Coaching) for a unique 4-way event in Empuriabrava, Spain. Participants to the camp were grouped in threes and matched with a coach for the day. Allum, Bobo, and Pilcher were the coaches. Their coaching fees were sponsored in full by Performance Designs; participants merely paid for their own jump expenses and video. The coaches rotated among the groups, and by the end of the four-day camp had achieved some of their best skydives to date.

"By the end of the event, three of the participants are well on the way to forming a new team," said Gareth Couldrey of the United Kingdom. "And from my point of view, ability levels shot up, future direction was re-affirmed, and the fires to 'go fast, 4-way style' were fueled. Lets hope the guys put on a similar event next year. Keep an eye open, I'd recommend it".

Missed Genesis Reunion

The biggest part of the summer season was still filled with Canopy Piloting camps and competitions for Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo. However, in the meantime they had also made plans for a Genesis re-union at the USPA Nationals 2007 with the original line-up of 1996 (Shannon Pilcher, Ian Bobo, Kyle Collins, David VanGreuningen, Eric Taylor on camera).

The last Genesis re-union with the original line-up took place at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2004, and it was about time to get together again. Plans were made, and unfortunately it didn't work out with one cancelation on a short notice. It finally turned out that no original Genesis member was present during the Formation Skydiving events at Skydive Chicago.

Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo showed up a little bit later when it was time in Ottawa for the Canopy Piloting competition. The later arrival spared them the pain to observe how their 4-way USPA title of 2006 was taken by Airspeed Odyssey this year. Shannon Pilcher, Ian Bobo, Gary Smith and Solly Williams were the defending 4-way champions of 2006 with DeLand Grove.

Only Solly Williams was on site throughout the Formation Skydiving events, even though he also did not defend his title in 4-way. He only competed with Knight Trax in 8-way and won the silver medals, which will most likely qualify him and Knight Trax as the US national team for the World Meet 2008 in France.

Last year's DeLand Groove 4-way champions, PD Factory members Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo, still had a most successful competition at the USPA Nationals 2007. They won the gold and silver medals together in the overall category after the three Canopy Piloting events (distance, speed, accuracy).

Shannon Pilcher took the 1st place with a total of 812.67 points, and Ian Bobo finished right behind his best friend with 785.29 points. 25 competitors attended the Canopy Piloting competition of the USPA Nationals 2007. Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo both competed with Velocity 84 canopies.

The PD Factory Team with its professional members is still dominating the Canopy Piloting competition in the USA and also at the international events. Most of the winning parachutes in this event are built by Performance Designs that sponsors the PD Factory Team. Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo founded the PD Factory Team, and the purposes of the project go far beyond the actual skydiving competition.

The current Canopy Piloting success has surely been the dominating part of Shannon Pilcher's and Ian Bobo's recent phase in their skydiving careers. However, their original Genesis roots and 4-way competition is obviously still in their minds and bodies. There are still chances that other 4-way events this year might bring them back to the NSL-TV screen... Congratulations to the new USPA Canopy Piloting champions of 2007.