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Vol. 16 - February/March 2001 - English Edition The Magazine from Skydive World

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Here you will find the latest news from the "National Skydiving League". Special thanks to Kurt Gaebel, founder of the league and webmaster of its web site.

[Updated: March 12, 2001]  

 
PD Blue's new team member

They took their time and chose carefully. And it was not an easy decision at all. However, it is final now: Niklas Hemlin is the new PD Blue team member. Very few people probably expected Hemlin to win the slot since PD Blue had a few world class candidates available. Solly Williams, Gary Smith and Doug Park all had shown their interest in becoming team members with Shannon Pilcher, David vanGreuningen, Ian Bobo and Kyle Collins. Hemlin will finally put on the PD Blue uniform.
 
Team spokesperson Pilcher and Hemlin visited the NSL office Monday night to provide the NSL audience with more insights. Hemlin is 23 years old and has a total of 2,550 jumps. He used to be a member of the Swedish national 4-way team "Velox" in 1997 and 1998 as the outside center. Velox scored 14.8 average at the World Championship in 1997 and 16.2 at the World Cup in 1998. He began dreaming of competing with a world class team early in Sweden. After training in Florida with Velox, he decided to pursue his dream in the United States.
 

 
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He tried out for the Golden Knights in 1998 when he met his future wife Kathryn, formerly Huntington. At the same time, the opportunity came up to become a member of FX. He dropped the Golden Knights vision and tried out for FX. Although FX did not materialize for Hemlin at this time, he stayed close and connected with the team. While he was going to school to finish his education as an Emergency Medical Technician, he kept on training with FX once in a while. He completed school in 2000 to become the official alternate for FX. The same year, he made approx. 150 training jumps with FX as point or tail. However, the FX plans for 2001 with Joey Jones, Doug Park and Gary Smith never materialized. When Smith left the team, Hemlin also decided to look for different options.
 
Just a few days later, PD Blue decided to look for a new team member because center inside Kyle Colins had decided to step back. Hemlin did not hesitate to express his interest in the open slot. PD Blue now had the choice between four world class competitors. As the other three candidates, Hemlin had already proved his scoring potential after putting 19.7 average on the FSL scoreboard with "FX Brazil" in January 2001. It was now up to PD Blue to make the choice. Pilcher explained that all four of the candidates would have made a great fit in regards of talent and experience. It was the team chemistry that was the main factor at the end.
 
PD Blue is very excited about the decision. The team is looking forward to begin training for the new season at the end of February. Collins will still be involved and train with the team as the tail and center outside. He will give the center inside positon fully to Hemlin who will need each jump to learn the new position. Hemlin took action immediately after learning that he made the slot. He began studying his new position by watching PD Blue's videos and asking every world class center inside for feedback by e-mail. He will be ready for the first jumps. PD Blue as a new unit is planning to continue the PD Factory Team project with full steam. Goals are to win the U.S. Nationals in 2002 and the World Championship in 2003. The training plan will include approx. 600 jumps in 2001. The first Blue scores with Hemlin will probably get on the scoreboard at the third FSL season meet on April 1st.

 
Judges are welcome

The National Skydiving League has not only created a playground for teams and competitors through the whole skydiving season, but eager and interested judges have more than enough opportunities to sharpen their skills and practice for challenging competitions. In the past, most of the currently rated FS judges did not have the greatest real world opportunities for judging. They had to get ready to face the best and fastest teams in the world at the U.S. Nationals by studying videos at home. There is some additional training right before the Nationals at the competition site. And that's it. No surprise that many of the calls at the Nationals were not happily supported by expert competitors and coaches.
 
However, there is the chance for the judges now to get enough competition training. In 1999, the NSL and the affilliated leagues offered 39 competitions all over the country. In 2000, the number of meets went up to over 60. This season, the expected number of meets will pass 80. There should be one for every judge in the country who wants to get the practice. Judges have always been welcome at the NSL meets, few have taken the opportunity. Hopefully, the co-operation will increase since this looks like a win-win situation for everybody.
 
Meet organizers and league directors are looking for judges to take the neutral position. Many leagues have been using experienced competitors and event coaches to do the job at the season meets in the regions. This works well. However, it puts extra efforts on the shoulders of people who already do other jobs. The league meets of the regular season offer a great opportunity for skydivers and ex-competitors to remain or become involved with competitive skydiving by judging the meets. The atmosphere is friendly and social, help is appreciated. A student judge can learn without a lot of pressure. Currently, the league directors are preparing the 2001 season. It's the right time to get in touch with them and find a meet around the corner. Matthew Cline, Director of the new Southeast Skydiving League, has been trying for a while to find judges for his season. His e-mail address is skypro01@hotmail.com.

 
The new league in the northeast is taking form

J.R. Sides of the Chambersburg Skydiving Center began in September 2000 to gather information for a new league in Pennsylvania. His efforts have now materialized in a league that may soon become one of the strongest in the country. Originally, the league was planned to cover Pennsylvania only. However, Skydive Delmarva with a new 4-way team has already joined the league. And there is a very good chance that Skydive Cross Keys will become a part of this league, as well.
 
At this point, Sides has already staffed the league committee. The committee had its inaugural meeting and set the schedule for the 2001 season. The league will hold five season meets with a weather date in reserve. The locations for the meets have not been determined yet. The next committee meeting will be on Saturday, February 3rd, at 5:00 pm at the Chambersburg Skydiving Center. The league has been contacted by Skydive Pennsylvania and Pittsburg Skydiving who are both interested in hosting events, as well. The Pittsburgh Skydiving Center with competitor veterans EdGanley and Don Bick already have a team for the 2001 season that will begin training in March in Florida.
 
A very strong player may still join the club in the northeast very soon. Skydive Cross Keys has been a great supporter of Formation Skydiving competition in the past. They have consistently been hosting Americas Cup events in the past years. After the merger between NSL and Americas Cup, the Cross Keys are now considering becomming a part of the NSL structure. The new league in their backyard is the perfect opportunity for them. The NSL News will follow up on the new league developments. J.R. Sides can be contacted by e-mail at manifest@skydivingcenter.net.

National Skydiving League - Calendar 2001
Date League Event Location Contact
01/21 Southwest League Season Meet 1 Skydive Arizona GDHarding@aol.com
01/28 Florida League Season Meet 1 Skydive DeLand FSL@skyleague.com
02/25 Florida League Season Meet 2 Skydive Sebastian FSL@skyleague.com
03/10 Southwest League Season Meet 2 Perris Valley Skydiving GDHarding@aol.com
04/01 Florida League Season Meet 3 Skydive America FSL@skyleague.com
04/07 Southwest League Season Meet 3 Skydive Elsinore GDHarding@aol.com
04/07-08 Southeast League Season Meet 1 Atlanta Skydiving Center skypro01@hotmail.com
04/21-22 Carolina League Season Meet 1 Carolina Sky Sports tony@skykat.com
04/21 Georgia League Season Meet 1 Air Ventures Skydiving jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
04/29 Florida League Season Meet 4 Skydive City FSL@skyleague.com
04/29 Virginia Parach. Council Season Meet 1 Skydive Orange Saychez@aol.com
05/05-06 The Ranch League Season Meet 1 Blue Sky Ranch william.o.murphy@chase.com
05/12-13 Michigan League Season Meet 1 Skydive Hastings tim_mckee@hermanmiller.com
05/19 Colorado League Season Meet 1 Denver Skydivers Jumpnkeith@aol.com
05/19 Virginia Parach. Council Season Meet 2 Skydive Suffolk Saychez@aol.com
05/19-20 Carolina League Season Meet 2 Raeford Parachute Center tony@skykat.com
05/19 Georgia League Season Meet 2 Skydive Atlanta jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
05/19 Midwest League Season Meet 1 Chicagoland Skydiving hhensen1@wi.rr.com
05/19 Indiana League Season Meet 1 Aerodrom Sky Sports SkyDveGO@aol.com
05/19-20 New England League Season Meet 1 Jumptown Orange beth@neskydiveleague.com
05/19-20 MidAtlantic League Season Meet 1 Skydive Cross Keys SkydiverJo@aol.com
05/19-20 Texas Skydiving League Season Meet 1 Skydive San Marcos joehazel@flash.net
05/20 Florida League Season Meet 5 Skydive DeLand FSL@skyleague.com
05/26-27 Northern Plains League Season Meet 1 Skydive Iowa SkydiveSG@aol.com
05/26-27 Southeast League Season Meet 2 Tennessee Skydiving skypro01@hotmail.com
06/02-03 New England League Season Meet 2 Connecticut Parachutists beth@neskydiveleague.com
06/02-04 The Ranch League Season Meet 2 Blue Sky Ranch william.o.murphy@chase.com
06/09 Northwest League Season Meet 1 Skydive Oregon cutaway@eskimo.com
06/09 Midwest League Season Meet 2 Skydive Illinois hhensen1@wi.rr.com
06/09-10 Carolina League Season Meet 3 Skydive Carolina tony@skykat.com
06/09 Georgia League Season Meet 3 Atlanta Skydiving Center jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
06/09 Colorado League Season Meet 2 Mile Hi Skydiving Center Jumpnkeith@aol.com
06/16 Indiana League Season Meet 2 t.b.a. SkyDveGO@aol.com
06/16-17 Texas Skydiving League Season Meet 2 Skydive Dallas joehazel@flash.net
06/16-17 MidAtlantic League Season Meet 2 Skydive Cross Keys SkydiverJo@aol.com
06/17 Florida League Season Meet 6 Skydive Lake Wales FSL@skyleague.com
06/23 Virginia Parach. Council Season Meet 3 Skydive Virginia Saychez@aol.com
06/23 Southwest League Season Meet 4 Skydive Arizona GDHarding@aol.com
06/23-24 Northern Plains League Season Meet 2 Skydive Iowa SkydiveSG@aol.com
06/23-24 Great Lakes League Season Meet 1 AerOhio Skydiving belmontmark@hotmail.com
6/30-7/02 The Ranch League Season Meet 3 Blue Sky Ranch william.o.murphy@chase.com
6/30-7/01 Michigan League Season Meet 2 Napoleaon Skydiving tim_mckee@hermanmiller.com
07/14 Northwest League Season Meet 2 Kapowsin Air Sports cutaway@eskimo.com
07/14 Georgia League Season Meet 4 Skydive Atlanta jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
07/14-15 Southeast League Season Meet 5 Skydive Paris skypro01@hotmail.com
07/14-15 Texas Skydiving League Season Meet 3 Skydive San Marcos joehazel@flash.net
07/14 Indiana League Season Meet 3 Aerodrom Sky Sports SkyDveGO@aol.com
07/14 Colorado League Season Meet 3 Front Range Skydivers Jumpnkeith@aol.com
07/14-15 New England League Season Meet 3 Pepperell Skydiving beth@neskydiveleague.com
07/21 Virginia Parach. Council Season Meet 4 Skydive DelMarva Saychez@aol.com
07/21 Midwest League Season Meet 3 Skydive Chicago hhensen1@wi.rr.com
07/21-22 MidAtlantic League Season Meet 3 Skydive Delmarva SkydiverJo@aol.com
07/21-22 Great Lakes League Season Meet 2 AerOhio Skydiving belmontmark@hotmail.com
07/21 Southwest League Season Meet 5 Skydive Elsinore GDHarding@aol.com
07/28-29 Northern Plains League Season Meet 3 Skydive Twin Cities SkydiveSG@aol.com
07/28-29 Carolina League Season Meet 4 Blue Sky Adventures tony@skykat.com
07/28-29 Michigan League Season Meet 3 Marine City Parahawks tim_mckee@hermanmiller.com
07/29 Florida League Season Meet 7 Skydive Sebastian FSL@skyleague.com
8/04-06 The Ranch League Season Meet 4 Blue Sky Ranch william.o.murphy@chase.com
08/11 Colorado League Season Meet 4 Front Range Skydivers Jumpnkeith@aol.com
08/11-12 Northern Plains League Season Meet 4 Skydive Hutchinson SkydiveSG@aol.com
08/11-12 Texas Skydiving League Season Meet 4 Skydive Dallas joehazel@flash.net
08/18 Georgia League Season Meet 5 Atlanta Skydiving Center jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
08/19 Northwest League Season Meet 3 Skydive Oregon cutaway@eskimo.com
08/18-19 New England League Season Meet 4 New England Skydiving beth@neskydiveleague.com
08/18-19 Carolina League Championships t.b.d. tony@skykat.com
08/18 Midwest League Season Meet 4 Chicagoland Skydiving hhensen1@wi.rr.com
08/18-19 Great Lakes League Season Meet 3 Skydive Greene County belmontmark@hotmail.com
08/25 Virginia Parach. Council Season Meet 5 Skydive The Point Saychez@aol.com
08/25 Indiana League Season Meet 4 t.b.a. SkyDveGO@aol.com
08/25-26 Carolina League Weather Date t.b.d. tony@skykat.com
08/25-26 MidAtlantic League Season Meet 4 Skydive Chambersburg SkydiverJo@aol.com
08/25-26 Michigan League Season Meet 4 t.b.d. tim_mckee@hermanmiller.com
08/25 Southwest League Season Meet 6 Perris Valley Skydiving GDHarding@aol.com
08/26 Florida League Season Meet 8 Skydive DeLand FSL@skyleague.com
09/01-03 The Ranch League Season Meet 5 Blue Sky Ranch william.o.murphy@chase.com
09/08 Georgia League Weather Date t.b.d. jumpnrandy@mindspring.com
09/08 Northwest League Season Meet 4 Kapowsin Air Sports cutaway@eskimo.com
09/08 Virginia Parach. Council Weather Date t.b.a. Saychez@aol.com
09/08-09 Texas Skydiving League Championship Skydive Spaceland joehazel@flash.net
09/08-09 New England League Season Meet 5 Boston/Providence beth@neskydiveleague.com
09/15 Indiana League Season Meet 5 Aerodrom Sky Sports SkyDveGO@aol.com
09/15 Colorado League Season Meet 5 Denver Skydivers Jumpnkeith@aol.com
09/15-16 Northern Plains League Season Meet 5 Skydive Twin Cities SkydiveSG@aol.com
09/15-16 Michigan League Season Meet 5 Skydive Hastings tim_mckee@hermanmiller.com
09/15-16 Great Lakes League Season Meet 4 AerOhio Skydiving belmontmark@hotmail.com
09/22 Midwest League Season Meet 5 Skydive Illinois hhensen1@wi.rr.com
09/22-23 NSL America's Cup Playoffs t.b.d. NSL@skyleague.com
09/29-30 NSL America's Cup Playoffs t.b.d. NSL@skyleague.com
10/06-07 NSL America's Cup Playoffs t.b.d. NSL@skyleague.com
10/20-22 National Skydiving League Championships Skydive Arizona NSL@skyleague.com

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