posted Nov 18th, 2009 - It's the day before, and things get busy at Skydive DeLand, host of SkyQuest 2009.

The dropzone shapes up, as the final preparations take place, while the participants register and make warmup jumps. Several smaller groups formed and have been jumping throughout the day. Master spotter and plane captain Roger Ponce de Leon, Kate Cooper-Jensen and Lou Tomasso already entertained the Kaleidoscope Divers in these groups.

The NSL News camera spotted several current and former Formation Skydiving competitors. Janna Wynne and Christy Frikken will be team mates in the Jimani lineup. Perris Fury's Center Outside is back in DeLand after her last visit in March for the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2009.

Christy Frikken had already competed for the Fury project team Acute at the NSL Championship 2007. This time, she will help Perris Jimani try to defend the AA Class trophy. Then she will be back in March 2010 with her own team to take on the best teams in the world at the Shamrock Showdown 2010.

Jimani member Janna Wynne competes in 4-way and jumps with the Eagle Team in the 100-way event. She said that she is ready for the challenge.

Teiwaz member Robert Chromy is back in the air after a shoulder surgery. He will now resume his 4-way action, as well. His Teiwaz lineup is strong and has Jim "Bu" Klinge, Rodney Cruce and Bob Byrne in the other slots. Chromy was still busy with some student work jumps today.

Two different generations of Norwegian FS competition were represented when Pal Bergan and Ole Petr Hjelle showed up at the DZ. IPC official Pal Bergan, who was Jury member at the FAI World Cup 2009, is now a plane captain for the Falcon Team at the Kaleidoscope Dives.

Ole Petr Hjelle, Arcteryx Tail of the past years, has no plans for any jumps this week. He was on a business trip in DeLand. However, he said that he is ready to join a Teiwaz lineup this weekend for the 4-way competition. Teiwaz always welcomes new members, and the lineups are flexible. There might be a chance...

Jonathan Perl used to train and compete with the first Mr. Pink lineups in the Georgia Skydiving League, at USPA Nationals and NSL Championships. He has been a member of the World Team for several years and randomly speaks of a Mr. Pink reunion, as well.

One of the longest standing 4-way and 8-way competitors is from Belgium.

Luc Maisin attended all world meets and world cups between 1979 and 1999 with the Belgian national 4-way and 8-way teams. He had his strongest showing at the World Meet 1991 when the Belgian 4-way team placed 6th.

Luc Maisin attended his last World Meet in Australia 1999. Former Spa Hayabusa member Sven Ibens was his 4-way and 8-way team mate by then. Sven Ibens and Luc Maisin finished with a 13.2 average in 4-way in Australia. Sven Ibens then lifted his own performance level to a 20.4 average with Hayabusa at the World Meet 2006 in Germany. Luc Maisin is now a member of BJ Worth's Eagle Team in DeLand.

The first 100-ways are scheduled for Thursday morning.