posted Jun 16th, 2004 - The Northern Plains Skydiving League opened up the second meet Saturday morning with blues skies and no wind. The surf was up for the NPSL meet two at Skydive Twin Cities with three new teams joining the league. This again followed a week of thunderstorms even into Friday night. The three new teams beginning their seasons at this meet were Mind Crime and Fair ABBA in the AAA Class, plus Cockeyed in the AA Class.Mind Crime reunites from last year and competes once again in the AAA Class. Mind Crime 2004 consists of Andy Junghans (Insice Center), Greg Heideman (Point), John Arnold (Tail), Dan Feess (Outside Center) and Mike Berwick (Camera). Mind Crime's experience and talent were reflected with the 10.2 average for this meet. We should note that Mind Crime had not done any formal practice prior to this meet. The NPSL welcomes Mind Crime back with the hope that the team will continue through the remainder of the season.

Members of the previous NPSL teams ABBA and Fairspeed combined to form Fair ABBA. Fairspeed had already participated in the AAA Class competition of the NPSL 2003, while ABBA was a AA Class team of the NPSL 2002 season. The new combination of Fair ABBA now joined the AAA class competition at this NPSL meet at Skydive Twin Cities. As usual, the fun and good vibes spread by Neal Elm (Inside Center), Mary Beth Gaines (Point), Kris Ruff (Tail) and David Gaines (Outside Center) showed. NPSL has not been the same without some form of ABBA representation.

Cockeyed, home at the Luverne Skydiving Club, also returned at this meet to carry on their scoring improvements after last year's participation in the AA Class of the Northern Plains Skydiving League. With consistent team membership now over the last three years, Cockeyed continues to post higher scores from meet to meet. Cockeyed is a family team composed of Mike Oolman (team captain and Outside Center), Aaric Oolman (Son and Inside Center), Wendy Oolman (Wife and Tail), Mark Wagner (Illegitimate Bastard Child - Point).

Most interestingly, the NPSL competition of the AA Class includes a family affair between two teams. While Cockeyed is most likely unique with the family's father + mother + son three-way line-up, NPSL team Mircoburst also includes a father + son combination. Sandy and Nick Grillet have shared their 4-way passion already for a while. Nick began as a packer for his dad's team Microburst and became even more engaged as an NPSL judge before he was old enough to begin skydiving. NPSL founder and director Sandy Grillet did not hesitate to teach Nick the basics and offer him a Microburst slot when Nick was finally ready to get in the air.

Doug Park of Deland Majik was the traveling coach. Bringing in a national champion for the meet coach was quite a win for the Northern Plains Skydiving League. Park was phenominal, full of advice, energy and encouragement. All the teams gained from this experience and hope to see more of him. There was quite a bit of support for Majik and the upcoming international meets, especially the world meet competition where we expect the sword to return home to the USA.Mind Crime walked away with the winning score of 61 points and a 10.2 average in the AAA Class. This result puts the NPSL team currently in third AAA Class position of last weekend's overall ranking. Gang Green member Mary Baur returned to the team's line-up after sitting out at the first meet. Baur had her duties at the 357-way in Thailand just a few months ago. Now it was time to get back to the smaller formations in 4-way.

Fast Forward took the first places in the AA Class both before and after handicap by improving their previous meet average by 1.5 points. Fast Forward's blown exit in round five left the handicap situation in a precarious position since Microburst improved the team average, as well, by nearly a point. Microburst was just looking for the right opportunity to close the gap. Microburst also recorded the team's first double digit round this year in round two with ten points. The score was actually 12 points in time and was reduced by a tough bust. This scoring battle after handicap will most likely get closer and closer as the two teams get in more practice. The progression curve will then become less steep.

The meet ended with an excellent 12-way multi-point dive organized by Doug Park where everyone got to see first-hand how a national champion skydives. The 12-way landed to lightning and thunderstorms on the horizen as the beer light came on. Thanks to Skydive Twin Cities, also home to Parachute Magic, for hosting the meet and also supplying a pool of videographers, as two thirds of the commited videographers were out of town. The Hawk Suits drawing was once again won by Fast Forward. However, this time the team declined in order to give other teams a chance for the cool Hawk Suits stuff. Gang Green won the grab bag and selected t-shirts, Kris Ruff of Fair ABBA won a coupon with a 50% discount for a jumpsuit. Biggest thanks again to NPSL Director Sandy Grillet for just about everything, John Goswitz for judging, and especially Doug Park for working his busy travel schedule to support the NPSL. The next meet is scheduled for July 17/18 at Skydive Twin Cities.