posted Nov 8th, 2016 - Skydiving Magazine's founder Mike Truffer had created the SKYDIVER OF THE YEAR award many years before he discontinued editing the very popular magazine and before dying in a skydiving accident in 2013. Mike Truffer had rewarded skydivers with the trophy who contributed in special ways to the sport.

His Skydiving Magazine partner Sue Clifton decided in 2015 to donate the remaining Skydiver of the Year trophies to the National Skydiving League. She did not have any requirements for the future use of the awards and left the new purpose up to the NSL.

The NSL decided to follow Mike Truffer's and Sue Clifton's tradition and dedicated the first SKYDIVER OF THE YEAR 2014 award to Lori Connor.

The second trophy rewarded by the National Skydiving League honors the achievements of the SKYDIVER OF THE YEAR 2015, and the trophy was sent from Florida to the Czech Republic this year. Jan Klapka is the SKYDIVER OF THE YEAR 2015.

Not many people knew that there is 4-way competition in the Czech Republic when he launched the Czech Republic Skydiving League in 2005. He changed this situation almost single-handedly within a decade, and his country has become a relevant player in the Formation Skydiving competition world by now.

The Czech Republic has between 10 and 15 active 4-way teams who compete on a regular basis at their own indoor and outdoor meets. The Bad Boys are the national 4-way team and perform at a 15-average outdoor and 20-average indoor level. They are the official FAI Indoor World Cup champion of 2014 and are posting the highest AAA and AA Class scores of the Indoor Cloud League month by month.

Indoor Cloud League 2016		Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Flying Chamber: 14/16-Foot
1	Hurricane Factory (CZ)	138	135	144	141	118	164	38	107	89	-	-	-	1074
2	iFLY Dallas (US)	120	82	126	95	141	170	95	93	74	-	-	-	996
3	iFLY Seattle (US)	119	100	108	114	111	105	105	88	98	-	-	-	948
4	iFLY Houston (US)	20	102	101	142	108	112	104	84	87	-	-	-	860
5	iFLY Portland (US)	-	57	54	56	62	72	-	-	-	-	-	-	301
6	SkyVenture Montreal (CA)	88	87	-	66	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	241
7	iFLY Virginia Beach (US)	58	34	44	33	39	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	208

Jan Klapka also helped launch the Indoor Cloud League and the European Tunnel League (ETL) which was the first step in creating the World Tunnel League (WTL) that has been in the works for a few years.

He has set up a perfect 4-way world in his country, where teams have a regular competition schedule at the Hurricane Factory during the winter season and at different Czech drop zones throughout the summer.

The monthly Indoor Cloud League events support recruiting efforts of new teams and indoor training for everybody. There is no lack of 4-way activities in the Czech Republic now.

It would be impossible to cover Jan Klapka's activities and skydiving history with one story.

The Sun Path Products NSL News created additional space by adding more information with the latest NSL Profile that features Jan Klapka. The new SKYDIVER OF THE YEAR now also has his own and well deserved NSL Profile page.