posted Mar 18th, 2014 - The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on 24 July 2013 that the Northern California Skydiving League had a comeback in 2013 with preparations for the first competition season this year.

League Director Lori Connor soon joined the Indoor Cloud League with her NCSL group at iFLY SF Bay, as well, while she continued to make plans for the 2014 season.

Regular updates with results from iFLY SF Bay followed, the last one on 4 March 2014. Eventually, the consistent quality work by NCSL coaches Julius and Deanna Frank, former USPA Intermediate Class gold medalists with R4 in 2008, supported by several other experienced 4way competitors and coaches, paid back with very competitive scores at the end of the ICL February competition.

Julius Frank is the NCSL head coach and organizes the technical and engineering support at the NSL Tunnel Kicker events. The indoor activities at iFLY SF Bay will continue, while Lori Connor and her 4way following in Northern California prepare for the 2014 outdoor season.

Indoor Cloud League February 2014		AAA Class	AA Class	A Class	Rookie AAA	Rookie AA	Rookie A	Total
Rank	Teams	A,H,9,11	A,H,C,9	A,H,9	A,H,C	M,A,H	M,A	Total
1	Skydive Arena (CZ)	26	33	23	30	29	12	153
2	iFLY Orlando (US)	23	30	25	20	24	25(-1)	147
3	iFLY Seattle (US)	23	20	23	21(-1)	24	24	135
4	iFLY SF Bay (US)	23	19	21	14	30	23	130
5	SkyVenture Montreal (CA)	24	28	18	14(-7)	22	20	126
6	SkyVenture New Hampshire (US)	-	-	19	22(-1)	-	-	41

The Northern California Skydiving League had a great “rebirth” in 2013 and is continuing the momentum in early 2014 as the league heads into the competitive season.

NCSL league director Lori Connor, supported by a team of volunteers, organized five outdoor and eight indoor events between August 2013 and March 2014, focused on building 4way skills among the local skydivers and generating excitement for the 2014 season.

Evidenced by turnouts as large as 16 teams at the outdoor events, it’s clear that the time has come for Northern California to regain its strong presence in competitive 4way.

The league also supported scrambles events held at local dropzones, actively encouraging league members to join in the 4way fun. Last but not least, the league also promoted 4way video skills and safety at a recent seminar led by former R4 and Rhythm videographer Jason Imamura.

Many current and past 4way competitors joined in the fun to act as coaches for the NSL Tunnel Kickers at iFLY SF Bay, as well as at skills camps and scrambles events at host dropzones Skydance Skydiving, Parachute Center, and Bay Area Skydiving.

For all events, more experienced jumpers and coaches were matched with novice and intermediate jumpers to give everyone a chance to learn and grow at the events. The weather gods smiled on the NCSL this year, with near-perfect weather for all of the outdoor events, even during the usually-damp California winter months.

The monthly NSL Tunnel Kickers at iFLY SF Bay have been extremely popular, with a full slate of participants (and usually a waiting list) signing up each month to perfect their 4way skills in the wind tunnel.

Many newer participants have used the NSL Tunnel Kickers as an opportunity to connect with local coaches and have supplemented their training with those coaches in additional tunnel sessions.

The 2014 competitive season is shaping up to be a strong one, with at least six teams having formed that plan to train and compete throughout the year.

Team Singularity, which competed as The Diplomats in the 2013 USPA Nationals Intermediate Class returns for the 2014 season with only one lineup change.

Centers Sylvain Florand and Oleg Ryjkov return from the 2013 team, along with Point Thomas Gullaud. Volker Haag, a veteran of 4way in Germany, returns to competition this year in the Tail slot.

Fifth Wheel is also planning to compete in the 2014 season. The team members are all experienced USPA Nationals competitors in 8way, including Inside Center Krisanne Combs, Tail Christina Deglau and Point Mike Deglau. The three have also competed in 4way at USPA Nationals on casual pickup teams.

Outside Center Jim Hopf not only brings his 8way experience, he also returns to 4way training after a break of several years.

Jim Hopf’s teams were regularly at the top of the leaderboard in the previous incarnation of the NCSL in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sean Horton joins the team as videographer.

NCSL League Director Lori Connor has also put together a team of new 4way competitors: Counterpoint FX, where she’ll be the Inside Center.

Joining her on the team are Outside Center Shawn Clark, as well as veteran skydivers (but new competitors) Kristin Sosso, flying Point, and Pete Swan in the Tail slot. Bryce Lowe is a recent addition to the team in the video slot.

Team Incapable brings together four newer flyers excited to be competing together early in their skydiving careers.

Centers Evan Budaj and Ian Pedowitz are joined by Point Cristian Trefault and Tail Andrew Leith. Veteran videographer Nick Armstrong will support the team as video flyer.

Two additional teams (yet to be named) have recently formed. One team brings together veteran organizer and competitor John Verley (a recent transplant to Northern California), along with new competitors Jeff Bodin, Karen Cruz, and Maria Garcia-Sheets.

A second team joins up David Thom, Karen Woolem, Deborah Bingham, and Angela Stroman with videographer Ryan Sass. Both teams are looking forward to the NCSL competitions.

Other local jumpers have expressed an interest in forming teams, with many others hoping to compete regularly on casual pickup teams. Six meets plus playoffs are planned for the 2014 NCSL season, in addition to the monthly NSL Tunnel Kickers.