NSL News Archives: 18 March 2003

posted Dec 21st, 2017 - We have already read how the local media perceived the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2003, and the positive coverage was greatly appreciated by host Skydive DeLand, teams and meet management.

The drop zone was very busy on all three meet days. Spectators had called the NSL office and the drop zone management all day long on Friday, Saturday and Sunday asking for information about the event. However, now it is about time to look at the Shamrock Showdown from the skydiver's point of view.

Saturday morning, most of the calls and questions were regarding the weather situation. Weather forecast and morning conditions were once again not promising at all. The first two FSL meets of the 2003 season had already been bothered by the weather. It did not look much better this time. The difference at this meet was the fact that top teams from all over the world were in DeLand to compete with the world cup and NSL champion of 2002 and Shamrock Showdown title defender, DeLand Majik.

The expectations were very high. NSL management and Majik members had been busy collecting prizes for the Skins Game that totaled the value of over $4,000. Many teams had scheduled trips to Florida around this event. The field of teams in the AAA Class was like a small world meet.

Shamrock Showdown 2003			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		N,E,A,16	9,B,18	4,C,15	8,13,12	7,5,P	L,21,F,J	G,3,H,22	M,2,10	Total	Avg
1	DeLand Majik	US	28	25	17	16	23	29	21	18	177	22.1
2	Sinapsi PD	IT	23	24	19	15	24	28	19	18	170	21.3
3	Golden Knights	US	26	24	19	17	19	27	17	19	168	21.0
4	Synchronicity	US	20	18	14	11	16	20	14	14	127	15.9
5	Phoenix	SE	20	17	14	11	19	22	16	-	119	17.0
6	Sebastian DaneZ	DK	14	14	15	11	15	18	14	11	112	14.0
7	Sebastian Teiwaz	US	15	14	14	11	13	16	12	12	107	13.4
8	Mr. Pink	US	15	14	11	10	15	16	12	11	104	13.0
9	Spaceland Inferno	US	16	12	12	8	11	18	13	8	98	12.3
10	Chikara	US	15	14	12	8	13	17	11	7	97	12.1
11	UBI	UK	13	12	11	8	9	11	11	11	86	10.8
12	Remscheid	DE	11	10	9	7	9	6	-	-	52	8.7
Rank	AA Class		N,E,A,22	9,B,18	4,C,14	8,13	7,19	L,21,F	-	-	Total	Avg
1	YaYa Sisters	US	9	9	7	6	6	8	-	-	45	7.5
2	Fastrax	US	9	6	6	-	-	-	-	-	21	7.0
3	Anything is Possible	US	2	3	5	4	2	4	-	-	20	3.3
Rank	A Class		N,E,A	9,B	4,C	8,P	7,19	L,21	-	-	Total	Avg
1	Pandemonium	US	8	13	6	7	6	9	-	-	49	8.2
2	FLair	US	9	7	4	5	5	-	-	-	30	6.0
3	Sky Candy	US	9	4	1	3	5	-	-	-	22	4.4

The Golden Knights had their second serious test in 2003 on the agenda, after already competing at the Valentine's Meet in February. Sinapsi PD is the Italian national team preparing for this year's World Championship of Formation Skydiving in France in September.

Phoenix is the Swedish national team that will travel to France, as well. And the Sebastian Danez will also represent Denmark at the world meet.

The all-female teams Synchronicity and Remscheid Ladies will compete in the 4-way Women category for the U.S.A. and Germany in France. Synchronicity is the defending world champion in the female category.

Inferno with team members from Texas had already attended the Valentine's Meet together with the Golden Knights and looked for another test in Florida. Mr. Pink visited from Georgia. UBI is a British 4-way team training in DeLand.

Chikara is a newly formed all-female team with well trained and experienced competitors. Billy Andrews of Superfly helped out to fill the point slot at this meet. Space Center Teiwaz is the defending FSL champion of 2003 and showed up once again with a different lineup.

In the AA Class, Fastrax visited from Ohio and could not complete the meet. Windline Lightning showed up Saturday morning missing one sick team member. When no reasonable solution to fill the slot could be found.

The FSL top team of the AA Class had to withdraw. The DeLand YaYa Girls are another newly formed local all-female team who plan to join the Florida Skydiving League more frequently.

Shamrock Showdown 2018 Information: Cessna Caravan and Twin Otter both confirmed as jump planes

Anything is Possible was put together on site and on a short notice and is comprised of experienced skydivers and the commander of the Golden Knights, LTC Paul MacNamara, who just recently began skydiving and full-heartedly supports the Army team and competition.

Three FSL teams completed the field in the A Class, Pandemonium, FLair and SkyCandy. It was the first competition for the all-female team SkyCandy from DeLand, while Pandemonium and FLair had already competed at the first two meets of the FSL 2003 season.

Both teams from Skydive Miami in Homestead were facing personnel problems with sick team members and smaller injuries. However, they managed their way through the first day of the competition to complete the official FSL meet.

When the fog and clouds finally disappeared Saturday morning, a total of 18 teams were ready to rock and roll in the three competition classes.

Event coach Robert Chromy, who also competed with Space Center Teiwaz, had used the time to prepare the lower experienced and new teams. Event judges Richard Schachner and Craig Buxton were ready for a fast pace and a lot of work.

Then the meet began. And this story will be continued. Only this for now: the world has seen a new contender for the medals in France this year. Sinapsi PD from Italy finished the 8-round meet with a 21.3 average and two points ahead of the Golden Knights. Exciting enough? Stay connected, NSL-TV will present the first round of the meet very soon.