posted Apr 11th, 2010 - The NSL-TV coverage of the World Challenge 2010 will continue with Round 3 later today. First, the NSL News goes back to the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2010 where the exciting A Class competition has not received enough attention yet.

Three new lineups of Florida Skydiving League competitors showed up at the Shamrock to open the FSL 2010 season at the most popular event of the 2010 season. DeLand Dunamis was already introduced by the NSL News with the story on 25 January 2010.

DeLand 5 is a new lineup with team members from Skydive City in Zephyrhills and DeLand who decided to train in DeLand. AweZomeness, with two Team DiZaster members of 2009, Rookie Class champions Jonathan Bojar and Bonnie Young, is also a team with members from Skydive City. Heather Hill and Ed Jackson completed the AweZomeness lineup at the Shamrock Showdown.

Shamrock Showdown 2010 - A Class Competition - Rounds 1 to 5

DeLand 5 was also formed this year and consists of FSL competitors who had already been on other lineups in the past years. Karl Meyer, originally from South Africa where he competed with Mugg and Bean in 2001 and 2002, then with Katalyst in 2003, is DeLand 5's 4-way veteran. He was also on Elsinore Momentum in 2005 and has a Teiwaz number (56), as well.

Paul Bartkus has attended FSL meets since 2005 and was on 12FLOZ in 2007. Quinn Lamb also competed with Team DiZaster, NSL Rookie Class champion of 2009. He now moves up into the A Class and then later this year into the AA Class competition. Eric Haller is completely new to 4-way competition and attended his first meet at the Shamrock Showdown.

DeLand 5 videographer Scott Pratt was filming Team DiZaster and DiZturbia last year. Team DiZaster won the NSL Rookie Class Championship 2009, and DiZturbia competed at the USPA Nationals 2009 in the AAA/Advanced Class (11.1 - 5th).

The main battle at the Shamrock Showdown 2010 took place between DeLand 5 and DeLand Dunamis. AweZomeness did not really expect to be in the mix for the top spots, while the two other FSL teams were already quite well trained and ready for the competition. However, AweZomeness kept up well in a few rounds and even tied the A Class highscore for a single round in the fast sequence of Round 2.

The first half of the A Class competition was controlled by DeLand 5. The 6-point lead after five rounds seemed to be enough, as DeLand Dunamis had not outscored DeLand 5 by more than a point so far.

Dunamis had a bad start with a 3-point penalty in Round 1, while DeLand 5 had no point deductions at all in the first five rounds. Another penalty in Round 3 added to the damage for Dunamis. However, even a clean first half would have seen DeLand 5 still on the top. Then things changed in Round 6.

Shamrock Showdown 2010 - A Class Competition - Rounds 6 to 10

The Dunamis members, guided by experienced player coach Kris Peterson, knew that they had to make a move if they wanted to have a chance to win the $300 cash for the A Class winner, sponsored by Larsen & Brusgard. Dunamis did this move at the perfect time, as a fast sequence of only Random Formations in Round 6 offered a great opportunity to make up for lost ground.

Dunamis won Round 6 by six points over DeLand 5, and the 6-point lead was history. It was a completely new game. It was actually quite impressive to see that DeLand 5 did not get nervous after Round 6. Dunamis won Round 7, as well, even after another point deduction and now had a 1-point lead.

However, DeLand 5 continued to fight back and almost tied the game in Round 8. Only a 1-point deduction for DeLand 5 maintained the 1-point lead for Dunamis. Then came Round 9, and this exciting race saw another twist, the last and meet making one this time.

DeLand 5 delivered a solid 10-pointer. The missed Zig Zag - Marquis finish at the end was out of working time, and the clean 10-pointer was posted on the scoreboard.

Dunamis went exactly the same pace and completed 10 points in working time. However, the judges did not like four of the transitions and reduced the score from 10 to 6. Now the 1-point lead had turned into a 3-point deficit, and there was only one round left.

DeLand 5 once again showed no nerves in the last round and delivered a solid 10-pointer. DeLand Dunamis gave it all and tried to come back. The 10-pointer after another 1-point deduction was not enough, and DeLand 5 ended up as the A Class winner with a 10.2 average. Dunamis swallowed a total of 10 point deductions and finished with a 9.9 average. AweZomeness finished with an impressive 7.4 average at the team's first A Class competition. All three teams have the opportunity for a re-match at the upcoming April meet of the Florida Skydiving League in Sebastian.