posted Mar 8th, 2011 - The Shamrock Showdown 2011 is now only ten days away, and Skydive DeLand is getting busier by the hour. The event's home page was recently updated and includes the schedule for the 3-day competition, which begins on Thursday evening with the reception and live competition draw at the Clarion Hotel DeLand.

CamScore will provide the judging and DZ-TV services. Skydive DeLand will set up large TV screens for the audience, so the first competition jumps of the world's three top contenders can be seen everywhere.

Judy Celaya, Cherie Schuch and Eric Heinsheimer will guarantee that the competition jumps will be evaluated accurately. The NSL mission for the Shamrock Showdown 2011 is to have most accurate scores and post them before the next rounds begins. CamScore, the three highly skilled USPA and FAI judges and the meet management will work together on this mission.

NSL Reality TV was on a different mission today and collected live footage at the dropzone. Several teams are on site and have started their last training camps before the competition.

The Dutch team Whooops is the top contender for the open slot of the national 4-way team in the Netherlands this year. Coach Gary Smith will provide an update from the Netherlands as soon as there will be some spare time for him. He is also working with ISB Air and SonicNutz at the same time. German visitor Uli Sehrbrock, X-Ray Remscheid member, was hoping to get X-Ray coach Gary Smith in the air at the Shamrock Showdown, but that was really too much for Shmitty's work agenda.

His former DeLand Majik piece partner Joey Jones arrived today and rehearsed the opening for this year's NSL-TV show. Majik alternate of 2002 - 2004, Shannon Pilcher, who also won his own gold medal with Gary Smith and DeLand Fire in 2006, is now back working with 4-way teams.

The NSL News had published an interview with Shannon Pilcher shortly after his return from Switzerland where he had a serious accident. He has recovered well and is coaching the Irish team Fast Air.

It is the first time that a team from Ireland competes at the Shamrock Showdown. The event got its name due to the scheduling near the St. Patrick's Day. Fast Air finally gives the Shamrock Showdown the real meaning.

Last not least, the DeLand Norgies are in town and have already jumped. In fact, they came straight from Bedford where they held a tunnel camp at Bodyflight. The NSL TV camera captured a few jumps in the team room where the debriefing was not too serious...