The Ultimate Team Profile

TEAM PROFILE - Team Burble

1. How did the team come about? Tell us a bit about your history
Chrissie (IC), Gaydave (Point) and Neil (go go gadget arms Tail) all did their AFF with Andy Scott over autumn and winter. Andy and Sparky have trained them in the tunnel through to their FS1?s, they saw their potential from the very beginning in the wind tunnel and from these early days, these gifted individuals were crafted into the rookie gods they are today. Tunnel rats, Chrissy and David aka GayDave were introduced to Neil and when Amy went to Sparky?s tunnel camp she met Neil and the team sort of evolved. Minicam (Ian Ridpath - Nick Name Science Boy) seem to have been there from the start often filling in the blanks when members (mostly Gaydave due to his international Gay career) have been missing. We all jump at Weston so it seemed only natural to give the 4-way business a shot. We did not all jump together however until the end of July, due to holidays abroad and lack of FS1?s in the early part of the season.

2. What are your goals for this year?
Our goals for this year are to all be at the same dropzone, to wear coordinated underwear, to chant the Team Burble mission statement and at the same time to do a few jumps together (it?s much harder than we thought), also to get to the nationals, whilst we are there, leave the same plane at the same time and hopefully get a few points (amount not important however). Plus to not burble any other member of the team or ourselves, this is why our team name is so apt.

3. Where and how often do you train?
We have now done 13 training jumps together at Weston on the Green (6 of which were at the Weston 4-Way comp) and 30mins tunnel as a full team. 2 and 3 ways in tunnel and sky have also been popular when members have been absent, Gaydave also supplements his skydiving training with Swimming, jogging, one arm beer lifting, tv watching and gentle full combat Karate (that's why he's so pretty)

4. How do you think the season is going so far?
We are really pleased with our progress. Considering 3 member?s of the team have barely 60 jumps and the other has just hit 100; getting a fluky 10 point pb in time at the Weston 4-way comp was a proud moment for us especially as we had to swiftly brush over our 2 point 4 / 2way backfly escapade in the previous round! All good fun.

5. What is it about 4-way that makes you compete?
"I love the thrill of the competition, the exactness of the discipline and the team spirit, there is still so much to learn" say's Gaydave (who still can't remember his formation letters or general position). Gaydave is not quite sure what he likes about his homosexuality. He don?t really understand enough about it yet but there is something that has grabbed him because he keeps on doing it and can?t get enough of it. Also the amazing rimming he has had from such experienced and enthusiastic people has been brill.

6. What do you think of the NSL concept of teams all doing the same global draw?
Sounds awesome to compare yourself to teams all over the world. We suppose weather conditions come into it, though a piece of sky is a piece of sky as long as it's blue.

7. As a team, how do find the 4-way scene in the UK? Is FS still as popular as it has been recently
We have not been to a gp as yet but in our training we have found the 4-way scene incredibly inviting. We are all real beginners yet all along the way our coaches have been so complimentary and helpful which has filled us with confidence for the future. Andy Scott has been a driving force and inspiration to us all, FS is the ultimate team building excercise, for us it's 4 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle got just right can create the perfect picture, when we get it right, of course. There are so many incredible UK role models within the discipline, the breadth of their knowledge is an inspiration for us newbies to gain from. Also the sensational film which is Cutaway, "to win you just have to want it more!", helps with the mental preparation and team ethos. (Although Gaydave doesn't really understand big words like 'ethos' and 'mental').

8. What do you think the future holds for your team?
We can go all the way, we have a long term future ahead of us, we're gonna be as big as ABBA, (although we're not gonna marry each other and then split.) Say GayDave. Ian Ridpath rekons we hadn?t even thought about next year yet, we like to treat him like a mushroom. We say, Burble will no doubt be back competing in some form in 2008 and will mix it up big time on those leader boards. Watch out Team Elan, We suppose we will work that out after the nationals.Yeah!!!

9. Any words of advice for 4-way teams starting out or junior to yourselves?
I don?t really feel that we are yet in the position to give advice but the one thing that has helped us is asking people we know have competed in 4-way for tips and coaching. Even when they seem busy we tend to bustle up with a list of questions re those god damn Q?s and L?s or that blooming H exit. Grr! Another tip?don?t let the 0 point cluster **** jumps get you down. Laughing is the best medicine and all.

10. Finally, tell us something not many people know about your team!
We won gold at the ice figure skating world championships in 1963 but have all gone on Sky?s extreme makeover and have come back posing as AFF students. Ha ha ha?ha ha ha ha! Oh, and Gaydave, he's the only one in the village.