In mid-June of 2006, the PD Factory Team embarked on a three month journey with stops all over Europe. In the next few newsletters, we will share some of our exciting stories and adventures from places like Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, Spain, and Austria. We apologize that it has taken us a while to report back to all of you, but we hope you'll enjoy the following updates all the same.

It's old news at this point, but a striking character has been traveling the world with the team this year, and he goes by the name of J.C. Colclasure. We would like to take this opportunity to share with the world the pride the PD Factory Team has for our newest member. Colclasure replaces the video/media slot of Francisco Neri, who was responsible for so much of the incredible team imagery in the press over the past few years, and has decided to move on to other pursuits. Colclasure is now challenged with the job of following the team thru its adventures and documenting it to the world.

J.C.'s talents in the skydiving world represent such vast experience; his name has become virtually synonymous with swooping. From the beginnings of the discipline he's been there as a pioneer, including the early years of Blade Running, as a founding member of Team Extreme, and into the infancy of the Pro Swooping Tour. As a competitor, his smooth powerful style of flight has yielded him a multitude of medals and records as well as the respect of his peers for his passion, vibrant energy, and positive attitude. As an educator, J.C.'s been inspiring and teaching jumpers to fly since before canopy coaching really became mainstream.

J.C.'s abilities under canopy, talent behind the camera, and expedition experience have already enabled the team to capture never before seen in-air footage and angles of our flights. The team's momentum continues to grow, and we're all proud to have added such a fine brother to the mix... any casual observer can recognize what a perfect fit he is with the PD Factory Team. We knew it, he knew it... it was just a matter of timing. Welcome to the brotherhood J.C.!!! You look good in Blue.

In the last newletter, we shared some amazing stories and photos of our expedition in the Dolomites of Northern Italy. Experience all the heart pounding action, the extreme conditions, and a wicked wipe-out on the mountain.

Click the image to view the trailer.

For the fourth consecutive year we were invited to organize the Swedish Swoop Basics at the Stockholm Skydiving Club in Gryttjom. What began four years ago as an off-shoot from the RW basics, has steadily grown to become one of the best organized, best supported and well attended canopy camps on the planet. Nearly 40 skydivers participated in this year's event, including a handful of the country's top competitors and instructors, who attended a special two-day instructor's course taught by Ian Bobo. The rest of the jumpers split up into teams. With five days of perfect weather, we had the pleasure of working with every team at least once.

Special thanks goes out to the event organizer-and our personal host-Behrang Masoumi, who, despite being unable to attend the camp himself, ensured that all the pieces were in place for a successful camp.

Perhaps the most effective part of our FLIGHT-1 Curriculum is the Air-2-Air training program, which accelerates the intuitive piloting skills of any jumper through the use of 1-on-1, no-contact, canopy relative-work exercises. Thanks to Behrang's foresight and planning, we were able to dedicate a "roving" coach to this task, greatly increasing the A2A time that each participant experienced. Hands-free radio systems, provided to the team by Rare Dynamic of Perris, Ca., allowed us to maximize our airtime with each jumper. No more misunderstood hand signals and blank stares; just crystal-clear verbal commands. Air-to-air communication is undoubtedly the way of the future. Check it out! (www.raredynamic.com)

Perhaps the highlight of the camp was a series of 20-way flocking dives that we achieved with the most experienced pilots. All of which were executed flawlessly, with discipline, finesse and safety. With the expected progress of some of this year's less-experienced participants, next year's camp promises even larger flocks.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers (please pardon the mis-spelled names), including the jump leaders Lena, Chippe, and Goran; Peter the packer; the chefs Peter and Michael; the video crew Eva and Aaron; and last but not least, the lady of manifest, Sarina (aka Sabrina).

This year's award winners: Roel of Holland (Farmer's Plow), Babs (Senior Swooper), Fritte (Jump Junkie), Jens (Bust-a-move), Mik and Hermine (Mr. and Ms. Smooth), Torna (Best Attitude), Stefan (Most Consistent), Jesper (Most Motivated), Bea (Most Improved).

The 2007 Swedish Swoop Camp is open to all skill levels; for more information please contact Behrang at behrang76@hotmail.com.

The first stop on the European Swoop Tour was hosted on June 26 and 27 as part of "Extreme Sports Week" held every year in Voss, Norway. Curious spectators gathered on a grassy hill of a local golf club to watch swoopers compete in Speed, Distance, and Accuracy events.

On day one, two rounds of each event determined the results for the preliminaries. The top six competitors, Jay Moledzki, Jonathan Tagle, Jeffro Provenzano, Hans Christian Amlie, Alastair Macartney, and Shea Convery, went on to the finals to be held the next day.

With the scores reset back to "zero", it was a whole new game. Only three perfect rounds would determine the winner. And if that's not enough pressure, the finals were broadcast live on National Norwegian TV.

Tagle of the PD Factory Team lead the way to a first place finish with team mate Moledzki in second. Provenzano took third.

"It's great to participate along side other extreme sports. The weather was perfect, the view was amazing, and the event was very well organized. I look forward to coming back next year", said Tagle.

The Flight-1 Skills camp at Oslo Fallskjermklubb / Oestre Aera DZ (the National Norwegian DZ) consisted of three fun filled days of coaching with Jay Moledzki. The event was arranged and organized by Didrik Fulldriftsleder, the Dz's general manager and a Flight-1 course participant. Thanks go out to Dedrik, the DZ and everyone else involved in helping to bring this introduction to canopy piloting coaching to Oestre Aera.

The first of the three days consisted of a group of very experienced and eager pilots who's goals were centered around honing their existing skills, as well as practicing consistent set-up techniques and building better turns to enable them to generate more speed. (Jay's favorite topics)

The next two days had a group looking for a slightly different twist on things. Not only did these pilots want to improve their skills, but they were also looking to bring home something that they could share with their fellow jumpers and students alike. All the jumpers who signed up for days 2-3 were instructors/jumpmasters. On day three, bad weather allowed for an intensive classroom session that surely filled the sponges of these wet (pun) and ready canopy piloting instructors.

The overall reviews were good and the general feelings of all those at the DZ who had not registered in time was regret. You can be certain there will be a return visit in store for the PDFT next year, and if first hand experience is worth a nickel, I wouldn't be surprised to see twice the number of coaches and pilots! See you there.

Oh yeah, after Aera, Jay headed over to Kjerag where he was able to pound out 11 wing suit BASE jumps in just 4 days, including his first flight from the ultra intimidating #8 exit point. As well as a couple of sweet 2 ways with J.C. flying right up next to the wall after exiting from #4. And multiple flights back to the campground and across the fjord from Smellveggen. Serious fun, but not for the faint of heart.

The PD Factory Team will be sending out several newsletters to recap our adventures in Europe during the summer of 2006. All the highlights and competition results will be posted in the following issues of the PD Factory Team Newsletter.