posted Nov 15th, 2005 - The last NSL News story went through the history of the NSL Championship and SkyQuest Florida. The story ended with Arizona Blade putting the last team name on the NSL Shugar Cup in 2004. The engraved names on the trophy's plates showcase well known teams over the seven years of NSL Championships, and a new name will be added this Sunday.

The NSL Championship 2005 awards will also include a new trophy. The first events in 1998, 1999 and 2000 had only the Open Class competition as the final event. The Intermediate Class was added to the championship event when the NSL moved to Fantasy of Flight in 2001.

The NSL created the A Class and the Rookie Class in 2002. The Open Class turned into the AAA Class and the Intermediate Class into the AA Class the same year for an easier leanguage. The A Class competition became a new stepping stone for teams that did not feel ready for the AA Class dive pool. The recognition of the A Class teams materialized when this class became a part of the NSL Championship 2002, as well.

The same three competition classes also made for the NSL Championship events in 2003 and 2004, while the Rookie Class rules were not synchronized throughout all the participating leagues at that point. This changed with the 2005 season when some of the Rookie Class teams became very competitive, as well.

Result of the Rookie Class evolution was the plan to introduce this grassroot category for the first time at the NSL Championship of SkyQuest 2005.

The NSL headquarters became even more motivated when two of the most competitive and consistent Rookie Class teams of the 2005 season, Raeford Skycatz of the Carolina Skydiving League and Team America of the Texas Skydiving League, expressed their interest in a final showdown at SkyQuest 2005.

Both teams participated fully in their regional leagues throughout the 2005 season. The Raeford Skycatz attended five meets (7.2 - 5.5 - 7.2 - 10.0 - 7.2), and Team America competed at four TSL meets (5.8 - 5.3 - 6.5 - 7.8) this year. The scores show clearly how competitive both teams will be at the NSL Championship. The new perpetual NSL Championship trophy for the Rookie Class will be provided by Aerodyne.

There is another new feature at the NSL Championship 2005. This year's competition will be the first time that prize money will be on stake for the NSL 4-way teams. The NSL supporter Jump Institute sponsors SkyQuest 2005 with a $5,000 jackpot for the two competitions in 4-way and Canopy Piloting. The $4,000 assigned to the NSL Championship will be shared between all competition classes, including the Rookie Class.

The NSL Championship at SkyQuest Florida has always been a fun and casual season finale for the NSL teams and guest competitors who were still motivated to make one last trip to attend a meet at the end of the year in Florida. However, each competition class has still offered exciting and tight competition on a high performance level.

The deadline for the line-up of the teams has not been passed at this point. However, each competition class will once again feature some of the best teams in the country. The Rookie Class teams from Texas and Carolina will guarantee a great race. FSL team Zero Tolerance Miami is ready to take on any A Class challengers from other leagues.

Arizona Divewerkz of the Southwest Skydiving League, Air Force Prodigy from Colorado, Airlock from Georgia and FSL team FSC Wind Damaged are expected to fight it out for the AA Class trophy, medals and cash. Sinapsi PD, the Italian national 4-way team, will post the team's first scores after the last appearance at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2005 in March and the long break after the Malevsky Cup 2005 and winning the Italian national championship in July.

Team Fastrax finished closely behind the Italian team at the same events this year and has the opportunity to get additional international competition experience at Fantasy of Flight. TeiwaZ-Hills will represent the Florida Skydiving League in the AAA Class competition.