posted May 22nd, 2008 - Two more US leagues will be launching their 2008 season this upcoming weekend, the Ranch Skydiving League and the Mideast Skydiving League.

The Ranch Skydiving League has focused on the Rookie Class participation this year, as the NSL News story on 19 March 2008 already reported. Two windtunnel camps were well attended and RSL Director Robert Schuyler hopes that many of them will join the 4-way community and attend the meets this year:

"The Ranch graduated over 70 students last year. Our team is organizing and giving free coaching for the rookies at Skyventure NH during the tunnel camps."

The weather has not been too good so far in the north, and he could not provide much information of the senior teams and competitors at the Ranch. However, some of the team plans for 2008 included familiar names.

The NSL News had already reported earlier that the AAA Class team Ranch Pulse discontinued at then end of the 2007 season. Brian Ball has joined Midwest Skydiving League team CSC Rhythm.

Ranch Fallout will come back with a new member in the AAA Class competition. Dave Bauer trained and competed with Ranch Radical Four in 2007. He now moves up into the AAA Class.

Fallout started training in December 2007 at Skyventure NH and added a few trips to the windtunnel in New Hampshire in the winter. Jim Reese of Mass Defiance was coaching the RSL team. Fallout has also trained at Paraclete XP in Raeford, sharing flying time with CSC Rhythm.

The windtunnel training is very important for the RSL teams since the actual outdoor training activities begin usually not earlier than in late April or May. RSL Director and team member Robert Schuyler said that it looks promising for the 2008 season according to the impressions after the windtunnel training.

The Gray Beards were planning to come back in the AA Class with one new team member. Billie's Bitches/Beauties might also get back together. The Ranch Lolas are jumping again this year, but they will probably only attend the RSL meets, as they did last year.