posted May 12th, 2005 - All scores of last weekend's events have now been posted. Competitions in Europe dominated the 4-way activities, with one event in Denmark and another one in Finland. Only the Colorado Skydiving League represented the NSL with its Scrambles and the AA Class competition at Mile-Hi Skydiving.

The two Scandinavian countries launched the 2005 season much more successful this year. Finland had hardly any activities at this time of the year in 2004. One AAA Class team and one A Class team attended the meet in July 2004, before the August 2004 event in Finland attracted a total of ten teams in two classes.

This year, the first event in Finland saw already a total of six teams competing in two competition classes. Zooey, the all-female team and defending champion of the 4-way Open Class in Finland, competed in the AAA Class, while the other five teams used the A Class competition draw of the National Skydiving League.

Two other Finish teams returned with the same team name as throughout the 2004 season. "Pistepirkot" and "Overload Light" both competed in the A Class in August 2004 and now again last weekend. "Pistepirkot" began the 2005 season on a much higher level compared to last year (1.6 average in August 2004 - 5.3 average last weekend). "Overload Light" posted a 4.4 average in August 2004 and started into the 2005 season with a 4.7 average.

The NSL News story of May 9 already covered the teams that competed in Denmark last weekend, and Colorado Skydiving League Director Brian Vande Krol provided the meet story for the NSL News on May 10.

Vande Krol introduced the new AA Class team G-Gap and provided some additional details about the Air Force team "Prodigy". The competition last weekend was already the second one in 2005 for the cadets. Prodigy had already attended the 2005 season opener of the Southwest Skydiving League at Skydive Arizona in Eloy on February 12, the SSL Valentine's Meet 2005 in the A Class.

Golden Knights team captain had commented the performance of the Air Force team in February: "The A Class competition was dominated by the Air Force Academy, which had two really solid teams, Quad and Prodigy. They knew their block techniques and had a good grasp of 4-way. Ex-Knight Eric Heinsheimer and the US Army Academy will have to work hard to beat these two teams at this year’s Collegiate Championship."

This comment was confirmed by CSL Director Vande Krol last weekend: "Airforce Prodigy, a practiced Cadet team, was looking very sharp. The tunnel time and coaching they have been getting has certainly been paying off. They scored 10 points in rounds two and four (with one bust in round four), certainly a high standard for the Colorado Skydiving League. I expect that, as the season progresses and they improve their block work and flashing, they could be looking at medals at USPA or/and NSL Championship this year."

Air Force Prodigy consists of Travis Dauwalter, Matt Tuchsler, Joe Dawn and Pat Chapman and competed with exactly the same line-up at the meets in February and last weekend. Prodigy finished the 6-round meet in Eloy with an 8.8 average and posted an 8.4 average at the 5-round meet last weekend in Colorado.

The actual scores do not indicate much progression. However, the fact that Prodigy has moved up one competition class changes the whole picture significantly. The Air Force team competed in the A Class in February and in the AA Class last weekend. The draw and the sequences were significantly slower in Colorado. Round six of Prodigy's February performance can still be viewed on NSL-TV.

The Air Force teams have played major roles in the competitions of the past years. "Air Force Blue" with Rick McClure, Jarrod Arandi, Patrick Kennedy, Daniel Darnell, Rob Ice won the silver medal of the AA/Intermediate Class competition at the USPA Championship in 2002.

The same Air Force line-up also won the AA Class NSL Championship 2002 at Fantasy of Flight and defended the NSL title successfully in 2003 with a new line-up (Joel Bier - Point, Zach Fennell - Tail, Jalen Whitener - Center Inside, Charlie Goetz - Center Outside, Grant Adams on video).

The 2004 season was quiet for both the Colorado Skydiving League and the Air Force teams, as well. Air Force cadets neither attended any NSL meets in 2004 nor the USPA Championship 2004, while the Colorado Skydiving League was looking for new leadership. The 2005 season seems to have the Air Force teams back in full swing and getting ready to become once again serious medal contenders. At the same time, the Colorado Skydiving League celebrates a great comeback with Brian Vande Krol. The NSL News will keep the eyes on the CSL activities and the Air Force teams.