posted Feb 24th, 2005 - The NSL News recalled the history of the competition in the Women's 4-way category in the U.S.A. in the story on February 20. Conclusion was the fact that Synchronicity has dominated this class in the U.S.A. ever since its official introduction by the IPC.

The NSL News story also included the brief introduction of a newly formed team that plans to challenge Synchronicity in the race for the qualification as the U.S. national team, team Fastrax Select. USPA does not have a separate class for all-female teams at the annual USPA Championship, while the IPC has the "Women's Class" at its World Championship of Formation Skydiving. The best all-female team competing in the Open Class will be selected as the U.S. national team.

The NSL News became interested in this topic when Team Fastrax' founder John Hart mentioned that he has prepared a surprise for the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2005. Messages with questions from the NSL audience and additional rumors encouraged the NSL News to investigate the Shamrock surprise.

Finally, John Hart invited the NSL News to the Fastrax February training camp in Lake Wales and offered more information as of the new Fastrax Select line-up. Fastrax Select was founded at the very beginning and together with the whole Fastrax project. It has been the support and "farm" team for the competition team ever since.

The basic concept of the Fastrax project was changed when John Hart saw the opportunity to include a competitive all-female team. He had good reasons for this decision: "We had discussed a female team for Team Fastrax earlier. However, it did not work out last year. There has not been any competition in this class. Fastrax wants to support competition. So there should be multiple competition in the female class, too."

The Fastrax project now consists of Team Fastrax, Fastrax Select and the support team, which will continue to take care of public relations and marketing business, while the competition teams train and compete. The Fastrax February camp in Lake Wales was the first one with both line-ups training side by side.

Team Fastrax had already trained from Monday through Wednesday when Fastrax Select joined the camp on Thursday. The Select members still continue with their normal jobs and have scheduled several 4-day weekend camps. Team Fastrax was planning to finish the camp on Friday with 150 training jumps in the log book. Select continued the training until Sunday. Team Fastrax' player coach Niklas Hemlin staid on site to work with Select for the remainder of the camp.

The NSL News will begin to introduce Fastrax Select with the profiles of the team members. Plans, goals and more team information will be added later. Fastrax Select's first appearance at the FSL Shamrock Showdown will not be a surprise any longer. John Hart knows that this might put additional pressure on the team. However, he believes that teams have to learn how to deal with this kind of pressure: "The psychological aspects of competition are a crucial part of our own meet preparation. It will be beneficial for Select to experience pressure from the very beginning."

The FSL Shamrock Showdown 2005 will offer many exciting aspects of this year's 4-way competition. Here are the profiles of the Fastrax Select members:

Kris Byrne - Point

Brief Skydiving History: jumping since 1991; 4-way since 2001; 2001 – "Xodos", 2002 – "TBD", 2003 – "Chikara", 2004 – "Down To Earth", 2005 – "Fastrax Select"

Personal Statement: "I want to be part of a truly successful team. I will do this by always doing my best, working hard, and through love and respect of my teammates."

Hobbies/Special Interest: theatre, yoga, reading, movies.

Other Slot experience: Outside Center

Tammi Rettig - Outside Center

Brief Skydiving History: first jump July 3, 1994; approx. 2900 jumps total; first 4-way team in 1997; 2003 USPA silver medal and 2004 USPA gold medal in Advanced Class with "Elsinore Adrenaline", 2005 - Fastrax Select

Personal Statement: "I am completely dedicated and committed to the physical and mental training necessary to fulfill the Fastrax Select team vision."

Hobbies/Special Interest: reading, movies, wine, music.

Other Slot experience: Four years point, one year Inside Center, two years Tail, one year Outide Center

Michelle Carlstrom - Inside Center

Brief Skydiving History: 1999-AFF; 2001 - first 4-way team "Out There" (Point); 2002 - team member injury, regrouped on Cross Keys RW Project 20-way; 2003 - "Mithril" which changed to "4Something" with Nina Kuebler (Inside Center); 2004 - "Down to Earth" (Inside Center); 2005 - "Fastrax Select"

Personal Statement: "My personal formula for success is a blend of living a vision, regular hard work, taking some risk, and keeping a lot of positive energy – that’s what I bring to the table."

Hobbies/Special Interest: body & parachute flight, outdoor adventure, swimming, traveling.

Other Slot experience: Point

Elisa Behnk - Tail

Brief Skydiving History: AFF in 1999; "Capricious" in 2001 (Point); "O2 Project" in 2002 (Inside Center); "Mithril," which became "4Something" in 2003 (Tail); "Down to Earth" in 2004 (Tail); "Fastrax Select" in 2005.

Personal Statement: "Together, as a team, we are champions."

Hobbies/Special Interest: All things flying, snowboarding, art & design, music.

Other Slot experience: Inside Center, Point, Tail

The NSL Forum offers the opportunity to discuss this year's Women's category competition in the U.S.A.