posted Feb 27th, 2011 - The NSL News made a trip north today, while the 60-ways continued in DeLand with beautiful weather. The weather situation in Palatka was just as perfect, and the Falling Gators had perfect conditions to celebrate their 13th Annual Collegiate Boogie.

The NSL News had visited Palatka in January this year (story on 16 January 2011) and reported activities of the Falling Gators who are mostly young skydivers relatively new in the sport. They study at the University of Florida in Gainesville and have made Skydive Palatka their home on most of the weekends.

This weekend's Collegiate Boogie is the biggest event of the Falling Gators, and it takes place next to the usual activities of a skydiving center on a weekend. The NSL Reality TV clip shows scenes on Sunday and visitors for the weekend.

Canopy Pilot Shane Schaffer was competing in Dubai when the NSL News visited Palatka in January. He is filming tandems and AFF students when he is not training for his swooping challenges. Of course, he is using his work jumps to keep in shape, and the NSL TV camera captured one of his swoops when he landed after filming a tandem.

The clip begins with a welcome introduction by the President of the Falling Gators Skydiving Club, Julia Loeb, together with her Vice President Melissa Garcia. They were happy with this year's event and explained why it is always a slow start on Sunday morning...

The NSL News also met Greg Lennartz who came down from Georgia to join the Falling Gators fun in Palatka. He trained and competed with GT Wreckless who won the NSL A Class gold medals at the NSL Championship 2010 and then attended the USPA Collegiates. He brought two Wreckless team mates to Palatka this weekend.

Greg Lennartz had great news for the NSL audience and the 4-way community in Georgia. GT Wreckless has made new team plans for the 2011 season and will also help with the logistics and administration of the Georgia Skydiving League this year. The NSL News will follow up very soon with more news and details from Georgia.

Alex Bittner, former president of the parachuting club to be at the Stetson University in DeLand, had great news, as well. Stetson is ready to accept the club's bid to be fully recognized as a college club. The NSL News will also follow up on this topic.

Last not least, the NSL News met next door neighbours Lara Kjeldsen and Kolla Kolbeinsdottir who were working hard in the blasting sun to prepare the Blue Skies Mag audience for the next edition of the magazine. It has a lot to do with wind, a lot of wind...