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This page will be updated once a week with the latest news from the "National Skydiving League". Special thanks to Kurt Gaebel, founder of the league and webmaster of its web site. |
June 23, 2000Solly Williams is featured as the new NSL Profile. Williams is one of the most successful and popular competitors and coaches in the skydiving world. He won the bronze medal with the South African 4-way team Equanimity at the World Championship 1997 in Turkey. In 1999, he led the Norwegian 4-way team to the bronze medal at the World Championship in Australia. He will continue working with the Norgies toward the gold medal in 2001. And he is currently the head coach for DeLand PD Blue at the same time. Williams is also a team member of Optic Nerve. And all the while, he is strongly and silently supported by his long-time friend Gary Smith. Solly's whole story is posted at the NSL Profiles page.
|
More on
NSL's web site
|
June 11, 2000For the fourth year in a row, USPA is changing the competition classes for the U.S. Nationals. Last year's classes are partially history. The new Skydiver's Competition Manual is explaining the new classes for the U.S. Nationals 2000. Open and Advanced Class are remaining unchanged. Both classes are applying the whole dive pool. Jump sequences are consisting of five or six formations. But the Intermediate Class is not the same any more. The new Intermediate Class for 2000 has its own reduced dive pool. Only eight of the 24 blocks have been chosen for the Intermediate Class. The jump sequences will consist of three or four formations as it used to be. For an infringement occurring within working time, no infringement penalty will be assessed from the total points awarded for that round. The eight chosen blocks are: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 15, 20, 21.
USPA's intentions are good and thoughtful. Beginner teams will enjoy the reduced dive pool. A similar attempt to target the recreational skydivers and beginner teams was already made for the 1998 U.S. Nationals in Eloy, Arizona. By then, the new class for rookies was called "Recreational Class". Jump sequences consisted of only three random formations. At the same time, the new "Advanced Class" was created for the 1998 U.S. Nationals. This Advanced Class was identical with the former Intermediate Class of 1997.
But one year later, this Recreational Class was history again. And the Intermediate Class was back to the way it used to be in 1997, identical to the Advanced Class of 1998. The Advanced Class of 1998 turned into a softened Open Class in 1999, with sequences of five or six formations out of the whole dive pool. Competing and signing up for the Open or the Advanced Class has been a matter of sportsmanship since the change for the U.S. Nationals in 1999. With the Open, Advanced and Intermediate Classes in 1999, the U.S. Nationals in Sebastian did not have a forum for beginner teams anymore. Confusing?
However, apparently USPA decided to target the recreational skydivers and beginner teams again in a new way. The Intermediate Class for the U.S. Nationals 2000 is a great forum for this target group, now. The reduced dive pool is making it easier for new teams to test competition skydiving. But another new problem may need to be fixed now. What are the teams going to do, which had planned and trained to compete in the old Intermediate Class at this year's nationals? They chose the old Intermediate Class since they did not feel ready for five- or six-point sequences with the whole dive pool in the Open/Advanced Class. Will they step down to the reduced dive pool after training the whole dive pool? Or will they step up to the Open/Advanced Class without being ready for it? If they step down, they will be crowding the forum that has been created for the beginners. And they will surely steal the medals in this new Intermediate Class. Decisions, decisions.
It's not an easy situation for the leagues, as well. The league directors have been trying to create rules, which will help the teams to prepare for the U.S. Nationals. Some of the leagues have already started their season, applying the former Intermediate Class and their own "Rookie Classes". It would have been nice to know the upcoming changes before the start of the skydiving season. The NSL headquarters has contacted the USPA Competition Committee to find out more background information and to possibly get advise. Feedback will be much appreciated at the NSL headquarters. Sorry for the confusion. |
June 4, 2000The New England and the Midwest were weathered out. Some of the leagues had some bad luck beginning their 2000 season. The Ranch Skydiving League needed a third attempt to successfully get the season started, but they finally had good weather last weekend during the Memorial Day Boogie. The Virginia Parachute Council had to reschedule their season opener. The meet is now taking place on the weekend of June 9/10. The Midwest Skydiving League and the New England Skydiving League were hit by bad weather last weekend, as well. MWSL director Howy Hensen is reporting that he may reschedule the meet after the U.S. Nationals.
June 3, 2000The subterminal competition of FSL 5. Skyleague.com visitor and FSL competitor Dr. Joel Shugar (Optic Nerve) came up with the idea to provide competitors and other visitors with more interesting meet data. He had watched the latest NSL-TV with the subterminal ZigZag - Marquis moves of round six at the Florida Skydiving League meet last Sunday, and enjoyed comparing the different teams and moves. Shugar encouraged the NSL headquarters to go even further and post a more specific analysis, if possible. Since the exit and the subterminal move are such a crucial part for team performance and scoring, he suggested comparing the times from the exit until the completion of the second formation. The NSL headquarters likes this idea. Check out the first meet analysis for the subterminal part of the competition jumps on the Skydive League's web site.
June 2, 2000The new NSL-TV show is studying ZigZag - Marquis. The newest NSL-TV show is featuring all Florida Skydiving League teams of the Open/Advanced Class, performing ZigZag - Marquis out the door. This block was drawn as the exit move for the last round. The moves are shown in the order of success, starting with the slowest performance on the hill, finishing with the best move: DeLand PD Gold - DeLand Chain Gang - Optic Nerve - Skydive America EH - Teiwaz - Tonic - DeLand PD Blue. All these videos are showing the beginning of round six at the FSL season meet five last Sunday, May 26.
The meet took place at Skydive America Palm Beach in Pahokee. The background is not the Atlantic Ocean or the Gold of Mexico. It is Lake Oceechobee, which not only looks like an ocean from the ground ... it is huge. Even from jump altitude, you can hardly see the other side of the lake. Skydive America is the home of Skydive America EH, possibly the future Canadian national 4-way team.
It is interesting to see how differently the teams are exiting and how they are all dealing with the subterminal challenge. PD Gold, for instance, almost made the catch, one hand already made contact with the grip for a very quick completion. But the miss made it the slowest move on the hill. ZigZag - Marquis has its own life on the hill. There was a jump when one Airspeed-piece missed the completion and continued the rotation for a 720-turn instead of a 360. Enjoy the show, which offers the best view with the Microsoft Explorer.
...more on Skydive League's Website |
| National Skydive League - Calendar 2000 |
| Date |
League |
Event |
Location |
Contact |
| 01/23 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive Sebastian |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 02/27 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Williston Skydivers |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 03/25 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive Arizona |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 03/26 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Skydive Space Center |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 04/08-09 |
Georgia Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive Atlanta |
mrpink1@mindspring.com |
| 04/22-24 |
The Ranch Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
The Ranch, Gardiner, NY |
blskyranch@aol.com |
| 04/23 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Skydive De Land |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 04/29 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Elsinore Skydiving |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 04/29-30 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive San Marcos |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 05/06-07 |
Georgia Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Adventure Skydiving |
mrpink1@mindspring.com |
| 05/20-21 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
t.b.a. |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 05/20-21 |
Virginia Parachute Council |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive Orange |
mailto:jcrouch@erols.com |
| 05/20-21 |
The Ranch Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
The Ranch, Gardiner, NY |
blskyranch@aol.com |
| 05/27-28 |
Carolina Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Blue Sky Adventures |
skydivin@usa.net |
| 05/27-28 |
New England Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive New England |
beth.murray@compaq.com |
| 05/27 |
Midwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Skydive Illinois |
freefall@execpc.com |
| 05/28 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 5 |
Skydive Lake Wales |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 06/10-11 |
Georgia Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Skydive Monroe |
mrpink1@mindspring.com |
| 06/24 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Perris Valley
Skydiving |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 06/24 |
Midwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Skydive Illinois |
freefall@execpc.com |
| 06/24 |
Colorado Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Front Range Skydivers |
Jumpnkeith@aol.com |
| 06/24-25 |
Carolina Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
t.b.a. |
skydivin@usa.net |
| 06/24-25 |
The Ranch Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
The Ranch, Gardiner, NY |
blskyranch@aol.com |
| 06/24-25 |
New England Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Pepperell Skydive Center |
beth.murray@compaq.com |
| 06/24-25 |
Virginia Parachute Council |
Season Meet 2 |
Skydive The Point |
mailto:jcrouch@erols.com |
| 06/25 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 6 |
Skydive America |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 06/24-25 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
t.b.a. |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 06/23-25 |
Great Lakes Skydiving League |
Season Meet 1 |
Aerohio |
info@aerohio.com |
| 07/08-09 |
Georgia Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Air Ventures Skydiving Center |
mrpink1@mindspring.com |
| 07/15-16 |
Great Lakes Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Pittsburgh Skydiving Center |
info@aerohio.com |
| 07/15-16 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
t.b.a. |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 07/22 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Elsinore Skydiving |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 07/22-23 |
Virginia Parachute Council |
Season Meet 3 |
Skydive Suffolk |
mailto:jcrouch@erols.com |
| 07/22-23 |
The Ranch Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
The Ranch, Gardiner, NY |
blskyranch@aol.com |
| 07/22-23 |
New England Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Skydive New England |
beth.murray@compaq.com |
| 07/22 |
Colorado Skydiving League |
Season Meet 2 |
Mile Hi Skydiving Center |
Jumpnkeith@aol.com |
| 07/23 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 7 |
Skydive City |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 07/29-30 |
Carolina Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
t.b.a. |
skydivin@usa.net |
| 07/29 |
Midwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Chicagoland Skydiving |
freefall@execpc.com |
| 08/19 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 5 |
Perris Valley
Skydiving |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 08/19 |
Colorado Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Front Range Skydivers |
Jumpnkeith@aol.com |
| 08/19-20 |
Great Lakes Skydiving League |
Season Meet 3 |
Greene County Skydiving |
info@aerohio.com |
| 08/19-20 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 5 |
t.b.a. |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 08/26-27 |
Carolina Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
t.b.a. |
skydivin@usa.net |
| 08/26-27 |
Virginia Parachute Council |
Season Meet 4 |
Skydive Virginia |
mailto:jcrouch@erols.com |
| 08/26-27 |
Georgia Skydiving League |
Season Meet 5 |
Skydive Atlanta |
mrpink1@mindspring.com |
| 08/26 |
Midwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Chicagoland Skydiving |
freefall@execpc.com |
| 08/27 |
Florida Skydiving League |
Season Meet 8 |
Skydive De Land |
FSL@skyleague.com |
| 09/09-10 |
Great Lakes Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Aerohio |
info@aerohio.com |
| 09/09-10 |
Texas Skydiving League |
Season Meet 6 |
t.b.a. |
joehazel@flash.net |
| 09/16-17 |
The Ranch Skydiving League |
Season Meet 6 |
The Ranch, Gardiner, NY |
blskyranch@aol.com |
| 09/16 |
Southwest Skydiving League |
Season Meet 6 |
Skydive Arizona |
GDHarding@aol.com |
| 09/23-24 |
New England Skydiving League |
Season Meet 4 |
Pepperell Skydive Center |
beth.murray@compaq.com |
| 10/21-22 |
National Skydiving League |
Playoffs Western Skies |
Skydive Dallas |
NSL@skyleague.com |
| 10/21-22 |
National Skydiving League |
Playoffs Eastern Skies |
Georgia |
NSL@skyleague.com |
| 11/18-19 |
National Skydiving League |
Championship 2000 |
Skydive DeLand |
NSL@skyleague.com |
...more on Skydive League's Website
|
