posted May 20th, 2009 - The events of the 2009 season have already provided a lot of information, scores, videos and photos, even though it has not even been in full swing yet. It seems as if the upcoming weekend will finally be the real season opener.

Ten different 4-way competitions will take place at ten different locations in six different countries. France, Italy, Norway, Czech Republic and United Kingdom kick off their 2009 season with the first outdoor meet of the year. Teams from the Czech Republic and France had already their own indoor competition this year, and teams from several other countries competed at the World Challenge 2009. However, the upcoming meets are the first outdoor competitions in Europe.

Teams from five additional leagues in the USA will also compete this weekend. It's already the second meet of the 2009 season for the Southern California Skydiving League and the Carolina Skydiving League, while teams from the Northern Plains, the Ranch Skydiving League and the Mideast will post their first scores this year.

Teams from one new member of the international network will be welcomed on the NSL leaderboard this weekend. Norway has joined the 4-way club for the 2009 season, as the NSL News reported on 13 May 2009. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate everywhere in Europe and the USA, as the first real multi-event weekend of the year already has the potential to break all previous records.

Andy Scott reported from the United Kingdom that 15 teams have already signed up for the UKSL meet at Skydive Weston. Familiar team names of the past years (Phobia, Strangers, Unagi) are in the mix with several new teams and competitors.

Once again, the Rookie Class attracts many new 4-way competitors in the United Kingdom to the meets, as seven lineups are listed so far. The Florida Skydiving League also just reported an upswing in this category.

Phobia, Strangers and Unagi all competed at the World Challenge 2009, each of the three teams in a new competition class. The NSL News reported already on 31 May 2008 (Archives > 2008 > News > Search for "Phobia") how Phobia has been moving up the rankings and the competition classes year by year.

The team's goal for 2008 was to win the UKSL competition in the AA Class and then qualify to represent the United Kingdom at the FAI World Cup 2009. Next, the NSL News reported on 24 August 2008 that Phobia had won the UK Nationals 2008 in the AA Class with a 14.8 average. The British AA Class champion then traveled to Texel in September and helped the UK delegation win the ESL Spirit at the ESL Championship 2008.

Phobia is now on the way to accomplish the next goal: competing at the World Cup 2009 in the Czech Republic. The 2008 lineup had posted a 15.5 average at the AA Class competition of the World Challenge 2008 and followed up with a 16.6 in the AAA Class at this year's indoor competition in Bedford. This weekend, Phobia will compete for the first time in the AAA Class at an outdoor competition.

Two other UK team are stepping up from the AA Class to the AAA Class at the same time. Kaizen and Escondido competed together with Phobia in UK's AA Class meets last year and then again in the AAA Class of the World Challenge 2009. Kaizen and Escondido both finished tied in 34th place with a 13.8 average at their first AAA Class competition.

Escondido is the longest running current 4-way team in the United Kingdom, as four of the five members have been jumping together since the team was formed for the Rookie Class competition in 2005. This is the 5th year for Escondido and the first one in the AAA Class.

Team member Brian Cumming said that his team is just happy "to be flying with the big kids now!" His team's jump plans for 2009 is less than in 2008 but this is almost offset by a more demanding tunnel schedule:

"The slower schedule is due to the financial uncertainty we are all in, but we are doing regular tunnel sessions, so that we can get our heads around those 12-point dives with slot switchers! We are coached by Pete Allum or when he's not in the UK, Sparky cracks the whip!"

Escondido has already set the focus on the 2010 season. The team plans include a spring training camp in DeLand with the Shamrock Showdown 2010 at the end. Goal of the 2010 season is the qualification for the World Cup 2011.

Strangers are just one step behind Phobia, Kaizen and Escondido. They competed in the A Class competition last year and have now signed up for the AA Class meets of the United Kingdom Skydiving League 2009. As Phobia, Strangers also won the ESL Spirit with the UK delegation at the ESL Championship 2008, and they won the silver medals at the UK Nationals 2008.

Unagi is going back to the A Class competition after testing the AA waters at the World Challenge 2009. The indoor meet does not have the A Class as a separate category.