posted Oct 11th, 2009 - Everything was still well on schedule on Sunday at the 2009 USPA National Skydiving Championships. The weather did not allow any jumping, but it could not interfere with other planned activities.

The best news first of all: 4-way is still rocking. Despite the economic problems, especially in the USA, a total of 57 teams were registered by the end of the day. This number even beats the 55 teams of the USPA Nationals 2008 in Eloy, even though the number of visiting teams from other countries is significantly lower compared to last year.

The large crowd of 4-way competitors attended the well organized opening ceremony in the first-class facilities. Eric Boyd of the ownership family, who is also team videographer for Spaceland Force XP, greeted the teams after USPA's meet director Scott Smith had welcomed the crowd.

Of course, the competition draw was the most exiting part of the opening ceremony, and it offered even more thrilling news. Round 6 has a sequence with only random formations, which has the potential for world record performances. Video clips of the events at the end of the opening day will follow tomorrow morning on NSL-TV.

Round 1 will test the top teams who have the potential to join the 20-point elite club in 4-way. It is probably the slowest sequence (13-20-18) of the 10-round meet. This serious challenge comes obviously very early and will test the teams technically. There is no other sequence with three blocks in the draw. The 20-point series is almost guaranteed for each team that manages to get past this obstacle at the very beginning of the meet.

The NSL News will discuss the competition draw with the experts on site in the morning. There will probably be enough time, as the weather forecast is still not much better for Monday. The first competition may go by without a complete round. Whatever happens tomorrow - let the games begin...