The Bodyflight World Challenge boasted an amazing 104 teams this year – and there may well have been more if it wasn’t capped at that. My first experience of competing in this epic event was certainly one to remember.

How many sports are there in this world where, as a complete novice, not only can you compete amongst the World’s elite, but they get down on their hands and knees and offer you free advice and coaching?!!

In the FS Rookie category there were 7 teams (including our back-fly team – Back Chat) representing a total of 5 nations.

Results

Winning the Gold Medals were the Czech Republican team, Hurricane Factory Chicks, scoring an amazing 330 points – averaging 33 points over the 10 rounds and obviously in a class of their own!

Followed in second place, and picking up silver medals, were the Italian team, Panic, with over 100 points less, but still with an incredible score of 222. Earning the Bronze medals were a delighted Irish team, Trajectory, with an average of 15.2.

Category Police

There is no doubt that these teams had put in a lot of time and effort to achieve such a high standard, and with the availability of wind tunnels many would say success at the top all boils down to money these days! A popular topic of conversation was how to police the teams entering into the appropriate category for their abilities, and one for which there appeared to be no answer.

Real Rookies

Further down the scoreboard, the three British teams were enjoying their own mini-meet – in no doubt that they were real Rookies!! With a very close final result of only one point between each team and the next – Smith Shorter Please came first, followed by Newton’s Nightmare and then April Fools.

Back flyers

Bringing up the rear was our team – Back Chat. As a very inexperienced team of back-flyers we were definitely not contenders to win any medals but had entered the competition to have fun and take on the challenge of trying something new, inspired by the only other back-fly team in the whole competition – Single A competitors – Black Magic. Leading up to the competition we were fortunate enough to have benefitted from an hour’s tunnel flying and coaching from them, which was very gratefully received.

Next Year

We’re hoping to continue our adventures next year – we may even be tempted to join our fellow back-flyers in Single A. Perhaps YOU might even consider facing a new challenge and join us – it’s guaranteed to make you have a laugh and a giggle and perhaps even to provide some light relief from all the seriousness of belly flying!

Thank you Bodyflight – and every single member of your staff – for providing us with this amazing opportunity.

Yo Lee, Back Chatt