posted May 15th, 2008 - The Northern Plains Skydiving League launched its 2008 season last weekend. At least, NPSL Director Sandy Grillet tried everything he could to get the NPSL 2008 season started. The weather forecast was not very promising for the region, and a few teams decided not even to try.

The weather lived up to the bad expectations. However, six teams still made it to Skydive Iowa and all managed to complete one round, two teams even two rounds.

Sandy Grillet had prepared the first meet very well to offer the NPSL following a great start into the 2008 season. Robert Chromy was on site to provide his popular meet coaching. Sandy Grillet's son Nick was in official Performance Designs mission at Skydive Iowa.

Nick Grillet left home last year to pursue a professional skydiving career and was hired by Performance Designs as a Marketing Representative. Now he travels around North America and visits events, such as the NPSL meet last weekend. He also tries to train and compete as much as possible and has attended several meets with Teiwaz and Team Twisted. NPSL meet coach Robert Chromy is one of his Teiwaz teammates.

The weather situation did not allow much jumping. Robert Chromy and Nick Grillet had enough time to hold seminars and workshops and answer any questions in their areas.

It was bad luck at this first NPSL meet in 2008. The scores of the first round indicate what kind of a race would have taken place in the A Class competition. Wissota Wild, I Don't Know and Team JETT each posted 7-pointers in Round 1 and were excited about the upcoming race. It didn't get any further last weekend.

Microburst moved up into the AAA Class at this meet to offer Gang Green at least some competition in the same category. Microburst usually competes in the AA Class. The expected NPSL top contender in the AAA Class, Slipstream, will attend the June meet, and Microburst will be able to move back into the AA Class by then. The NSL News had introduced Slipstream with the story on 7 April 2008.

The second NPSL meet is scheduled for June 21, and Sandy Grillet surely hopes that the weather will support the next meet much better.