The FLEX Team is training for what may very well be their biggest challenge to date, the 2009 TERC International Challenge held in Puyallup, WA, August 19th-22nd. A very competitive field of 15 teams from across the US, Canada, England and Sweden promise to push the team to it's limits. The reigning World Champions from South Hampton UK are in the field, as well as the WCRT from Sweden and several other excellent and experienced teams from across North America. This will be FLEX's second taste of international competition as previously they traveled to British Columbia in 2007 to COMOX Valley and finished 3rd Overall. This event will provide the team an opportunity to measure itself against some of the very best teams in the world. Even though they are the top US Team in the field, the competition is formidable enough that anything less than their best performance will result in a humbling experience. Look for results of this challenge in the weeks to come. 
Page Last Updated: August 20th, 2009
FINISHES 3RD OVERALL, 1ST IN NORTH AMERICA AT 09 TERC INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE
After last years improbable 2nd place finish at the 2008 TERC US Nationals, many folks, including team members themselves, may have quietly wondered if this team was in fact for real. After it's performance at the 2009 TERC International Challenge, the answer is an emphatic YES. The team battled until the very end, falling 1 point short of 2nd place behind the team from Sweden (WCRT) and the 2-Time World Champions from Hampshire, UK finishing 1st among all North American teams and 3rd Overall. In addition, Incident Commander Jeff Coffey fell 1/2 point short of Top Honors to Incident Commander Steve Barrow of Hampshire. Barrow previously took top IC honors at last years World Championships.
All in all, considering how little practice time and preperation the team has had this past year (2 practices in 14 months), it was a very impressive showing. This was the teams very first taste of top notch, International competition. The team proved to be up to the task in spite of not being entirely on-top of it's game. It is anyone's guess what the future hold for this team. With more experience and additional training time, the sky is the limit for this team. In only it's third season in existence, it has already surpassed the expectations of many during it's meteoric rise. What's next? Stay tuned for more news as it happens.
TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE- 8/20/09: Pic from TNT Coverage of the
"Pile Up in Puyallup" 2009 International Challenge
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Fort Lewis Extrication Team shirts are HOT! They include a 5-color, full back design and left front chest and sleeve print. They are sold for $15.00 per shirt paid either by cash or check. All proceeds to benefit Team FLEX. If interested, contact Jeff Coffey 253-307-8596 or by e-mail at coordinator@flexteam.org.
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