posted Jul 19th, 2004 - Our very own Neal Elm (Fair ABBA) wrote up a glowing discussion on Chromy's qualifications, including building his own windtunnel from discarded shingles, and inventing the internet - this review was in order to draw in some additional/new NSL competitors. However, it was for naught. No new teams this meet, but full participation from our, now, six regular competition teams.

So quickly to it - With a rather slow draw in both AAA and AA, it was hard work for all six teams. Also, with Goz off to a USPA board meeting, Chromy had to provide double duty as both meet coach and chief judge.

In the AAA Class - Mind Crime pulled off their second win of the season battling six point rounds in every single round and a mirror or memory in every round but round three - the "fastest round" of four randoms and Block 14 Bipole - Bipole). Considering the draw, the final score of 57 was impressive. Chris Golden was visiting his home DZ and stood in for OC Dan Feess - Chris, a well trained 4-way competitor and camerman also had excellent advice for the other teams when Mind Crime's fast pace allowed him a moment or two to share. Fair ABBA and Gang Green didn't let the difficult draw throw off their games either - it's draws like this that show the strong character and skills of these three teams. But this meet was the most difficult of the season for the NPSL to date and also showed the most in busts and NJ's.

In the AA Class - Fast FWD takes the third win in both raw and handicap scores with a self-proclaimed "awkward performance with lots of little errors and even more huge room for higher scores". Microburst came within two points of the handicap win with their best meet average yet and Cockeyed within four points of the handicap win with their best meet yet - very tight. It's of note that every single team in the AA Class has improved their average each meet this season. Let's hope all the teams can keep this up. With the medium slow draw (four all-block rounds) with the exception of one phenominally simple draw in round three (all randoms A-B-L-H, all tight, all inward looking) these scores are even more impressive. It was a win for all three teams for skills improvements. With only one bust for one team, and a single NJ for each of the other two teams, the AA Class wasn't hit nearly as bad as the AAA Class for errors.

Chromy wrapped up the meet with advice on maintaining energy through a day and also some advice to the cameramen on how to get improved subterminal shots from the peel-and-follow type camera exit used primarily here. Chromy is likely the coach having the most time working over the last four years with NPSL teams at meets and especially in the SkyVenture Orlando wind tunnel - he's become a welcome member of the NPSL family and our success as a league, individual teams, and individual skydivers is greatly due to his 'world-class' attention.

The meet was run smoothly by manifest after some well intentioned restrictions were pulled, manifest was able to load teams efficiently through the day. Much thanks to Cheryl, Loni, Paula and Jan. It was a busy day at Skydive Twin Cities and, even so, most competitors completed by mid afternoon in time for a 16 way with Chromy. Final wrap up included a serious discussion on how to recruit new blood into the league:

1. Fast FWD does "Fast FWD Dives" at their DZ on occasion consisting of taking a new individual and giving them a slot with three of the team members and then going through basic 4-way training, fully engineering, creeping and working a dive. This is followed up with the jump and a video debrief. Fast FWD recommended that meets have a "Round 7" in which each team takes a 'newbie' and puts them through a competition round with some type of prize. The newbie would only pay for their own slot and camera. Team members pay for themselves. It was extremely well received but noted that this is nearing the end of the 2004 season and the concept has an additional one season lead time. However, any team can do this at any time, and not just at meets. Skydive Twin Cities Manifest and team captain Bill Rehm are working to also establish a regular program to leverage this model and will go to DZ management for approval if enough competitors agree to support it.

2. DZs can put up posters with information on 4-way and the NSL so that new jumpers know this experience is available. A major comment from new jumpers is, "I'm not good enough" or "I didn't know this existed". Information is everything here and exposure to 4-way is not yet high enough. We need A Class and Rookie Class teams.

3. Of course teams do need to do whatever they can to take new people and show them the fun of competition and high level Formation Skydiving. This was emphasized by Fast ABBA team captain Neal Elm and he's right on the money.

Any new ideas, please bring them to your local team captains or Sandy. We want this league to grow so that all the skydivers in the Northern Plains are better skilled - 4-way is the best way to make that happen. Why shouldn't our local state records also be triple digits? Why shouldn't our best teams have mid-teen averages and higher? This is one route to those goals.

BLUE SKIES - Meet story provided by Bill Rehm