posted Sep 10th, 2004 - While Florida is still cleaning up after Hurricane Frances, leagues and teams in the rest of the country prepare for the NSL Playoffs 2004. The NSL operation was slowed down once again since it was just as much involved and troubled with the aftermath of Frances as everybody else. In fact, DeLand looked and still looks like a battlefield.

The NSL office was secured and pepared by the building's owner before Frances visited the area. The landlord and NSL decided to keep the barricades and sandbags where they are until Hurricane Ivan will have left Florida next week. Floridians still hope that Ivan will change its destructive path and spare the battered state this time.

DeLand was still luckier than other skydiving centers in Florida. It is hard to imagine that the Florida Skydiving Center in Lake Wales would be one of the main targets once again after Hurricane Charley had already devastated the host of the USPA Nationals 2003 in August. Frances and Charley actually crossed their ways, and guess where the crossing point was: Lake Wales. The weather experts just argue where exactly in Lake Wales the eyes of both hurricanes crossed. The NSL and FSL once again wishes the Florida Skydiving Center a full and fast recovery.

Miraculously, the NSL office and Skydive DeLand at the DeLand airport never lost electricity and on-line services when Frances hit. Skydive DeLand's planes were sent to North Carolina early enough, and the Skyvan was ordered back for skydiving operation this weekend. This means that FSL/NSL and Skydive DeLand are both operational and will offer the teams, which are motivated and ready to go, a 10-round competition on Saturday and Sunday.

The NSL was surprised to hear from several skydivers in Florida that they are apparently tired of bending over backwards to the weather. It seems as if several competitors are eager to go on with their normal lives, which usually include skydiving. Some teams have already decided to use the short break between Frances and Ivan for joining the NSL Playoffs 2004 this weekend. Thus, there is a good chance that the scores of some FSL teams will be added to the scoreboard of the NSL Playoffs 2004 this weekend.

Twelve NSL leagues have scheduled playoff events for this weekend. It is a 10-round competition for each class and a great opportunity to see the whole dive pool in a meet environment for the first time this year. The NSL Playoffs 2004 are the qualification events for the NSL Championship 2004, which will once again be held as a part of SkyQuest 2004 at Fantasy of Flight. The best teams of each competition class (AAA - AA - A) will be invited to the championship, which is scheduled for November 19-21 at the theme park and aviation museum in Florida.

For the first time in the history of the NSL Championship, which was inaugurated in 1998, Rookie Class teams will most likely receive invitations to the last and major competition of the 2004 season, as well. This young competition class has shown great progression, especially in certain areas of the country. The Midwest Skydiving League and the Carolina Skydiving League are the leaders at the grass root level competition and had great participation and exciting meets this year in the Rookie Class. Teams of both leagues will most likely join the fun at the NSL Championship 2004.

The competition draw for this weekend's events will be posted on the front page tonight, as usual. The scores will be posted as soon as possible. The NSL News will try to catch up with new NSL-TV and stories before Hurricane Ivan will make landfall next week.