posted Sep 8th, 2007 - Two rounds of the ESL Championship 2007 were completed on Friday, even though bad weather kept the teams on the ground most of the time.

The weather has not been much better in the past days at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, host of the USPA Nationals 2007. However, the skies finally broke open on Friday, and the teams on site had the chance to make a few training jumps.

The competition draw took place in Skydive Chicago's still impressive auditorium, which was already used for the same purpose at the USPA Nationals in 2002. The place was packed with teams and competitors when Chief Judge Judy Celaya began with the competition draw at about 8:00 pm.

The teams went straight to work as soon as the draw was complete, and the hangar was still busy for quite a while. The NSL-TV camera captured a few minutes of the jump preparations and other activities in the main hangar. The video can be viewed by Hayabusa Defence's Round 1 at the FAI World Cup 2007 - clicking here.

Golden Knight Eric Heinsheimer was busy working with the female line-up of the US Army delegation. He was also a member of the line-up that won the 4-way competition at the USPA Nationals in 2002. This year's original plans of the Golden Knights included Eric Heinsheimer in the Tail slot before a neck injury stopped him from training and competing.

John Hoover filled in for him on a short call and is the new Center Inside, while Matt Davidson is now in the Tail position, as the NSL News reported earlier. Eric Heinsheimer is still close to the team during his recovery and spends much of his time in Ottawa coaching the female line-up.

The NSL News mentioned already earlier that the Norwegian national 4-way team Arcteryx would compete at the USPA Nationals 2007, and the NSL-TV camera found the team in the middle of the dirtdiving crowd after the competition draw.

The Norwegian team is not the only foreign guest team in Ottawa. There is also a French delegation with top line-ups of the A-Team and the B-Team. National 8-way coach Erwan Pouliquen jumps together with three members of the national A-Team and gave their line-up at the USPA Nationals a name that translates the purpose of the visit in a funny way: Nice Maubeuge Vacation.

The Aerokart line-up is the second French guest team that has already posted scores on the NSL leaderboard several times this year. The Aerokart appearances included the international meets at the World Challenge 2007 in Bedford and the FAI World Cup 2007 in Russia. The two French line-ups will also join forces for the 8-way competition in Ottawa.

The former Outside Center of Italy's national team Sinapsi PD and reigning bronze medalist of the World Meet 2006, Arianna de Benedetti, is also competing as a guest. However, she has not signed up for the 4-way competition. She has switched disciplines and trained freeflying ever since the World Meet in Germany last year.

Last not least, the NSL-TV camera caught Airspeed Odyssey on the creepers. The top contender of the 4-way competition spent a good amount of time at night work. The first round of the competition (11-6-K) was the last action on the creepers.

The AA/Intermediate Class teams will be called to the planes at 7:00 am on Saturday morning, followed by the AAA/Advanced and then the AAA/Open Class teams. Let the games begin.