posted Nov 20th, 2008 - The first day of SkyQuest 2008 is over, and it was a day without 4-way competition, as the NSL Championship always kicks off on Friday afternoon. However, there were surely several Formation Skydiving competitors involved in today's three Kaleidoscope Dives.

Most beautiful fall weather provided almost perfect conditions in DeLand. The only flaw was the missing Skyvan, which had to be replaced by Skydive DeLand's Pac on the first day of the event.

The size of the formations had to be limited to 102-ways. A few Kaleidoscope Divers volunteered to watch from the ground, including Skydive DeLand's owner Bob Hallett. He said that he had enough other stuff to do anyway, as he commented on NSL-TV.

The NSL-TV camera captured the preparations for one of the three jumps today and then added footage to the clip that was filmed from the ground and right in front of the NSL office. The dropzone is close enough that large formation can easily be seen and followed with bare eyes from the NSL office. It is also easy enough to hear the fleet of five jump planes in the office when they approach for the jump run. The NSL-TV clip can be viewed by clicking here.

It was a very successful first day for this year's team of Kaleidoscope Divers, as today's official press release explains to the media and the general audience.

COMPLETE 102-WAY IN SKIES OVER DELAND

For Immediate Release

November 20, 2008

This year's team of Kaleidoscope Divers had the best start in the history of the event. SkyQuest Florida was launched in 2001 and hosted by Fantasy of Flight between 2001 and 2005. The annual event was moved to Skydive DeLand in 2006 and has been one of skydiving's finest shows ever since.

However, today's first three jumps from 18,000 feet were significantly better compared to any of the previous opening days. Usually, the large group of skydivers needs several jumps to get familiar with each other and learn the dive designs and freefall traffic patterns before the first formation is successfully completed. This year's Kaleidoscope Divers seemed to be energized by the cool temperatures in the morning and throughout the day, as they already performed like a well trained team.

Five jump planes dropped the 102 jumpers three times from 18,000 feet on Thursday. Freefall photographer Gustavo Cabana from Argentine flew from his eagle position on top of the formation down to a spot below the 102-way formation when he saw that the last diver had taken the missing grips. He caught the beautiful snapshot of the complete formation.

The great performance of the first day promises a great time for the Kaleidoscope Divers at SkyQuest 2008 throughout the remaining three days. Organizer BJ Worth sees the opportunity to move forward to the signature formation of this year's event already by tomorrow. The next dive design features the barrel of a Walther PPK/S, which is used as the pre-title graphic on all James Bond films. The new 007 film will be in the theaters this month.

The 102 Kaleidoscope Divers perform their freefall formations and maneuvers four to five times every day. It takes the group approx. two hours from one freefall to the next one. In the meantime, Skydive DeLand's jump planes continue to lift other recreational skydivers and tandem passengers to normal jump altitude of 13,000 feet. The Kaleidoscope Divers jump from 18,000 feet to gain additional freefall time. They use oxygen supply on their way to altitude.

The annual NSL Championship 4-way competition is the other component of SkyQuest Florida 2008 and will begin Friday afternoon. Teams from different states of the USA will compete for the 2008 medals and trophies.

There is no admission fee for spectators, free parking space is available at Skydive DeLand.