posted Mar 2nd, 2005 - It took longer than expected until the first competition jumps of the 2005 season ended up on the NSL-TV page. It is the beginning of the season, and the procedures will find the normal routine hopefully soon. However, Brent Finley, veteran photographer on the west coast, put all jumps on a DVD and sent them to the east coast. Thank you very much in the name of all 4-way fans.

The latest world class 4-way footage was eagerly awaited by 4-way fans from all over the world. The NSL headquarters received several inquiries about the missing NSL-TV coverage from the first meet at Skydive Arizona in Eloy. The interest was no surprise since the two new Arizona Airspeed line-ups and the Golden Knights attended the first meet of the year.

The Army team competed with the same line-up of the 2004 season, while the two Airspeed 4-way teams were put together this year. As a reminder, Airspeed Odyssey consists of Craig Girard, Eliana Rodriguez, Brian Johnson, Andy Delk and Will Pesek (video). Airspeed Velocity has Neal Houston, Kirk Verner, Dennis Rook, Andy Honigbaum and Steve Nowak (video) in the 2005 line-up.

Round one was not really a warm-up round for the AAA Class teams. The three-block sequence (19-13-1) was not a too difficult puzzle but still challenged the teams, including a newly formed team visiting from Perris. The NSL News will introduce Perris Storm very soon.

Airspeed Odyssey and the Golden Knights tied the highest score for the round with 19 points. The AA Class competition showed a close three-team field. Equinox came back with three members of the 2004 line-up. The Golden Knights Gold team attended its first meet in the AA Class and will probably move up into the AAA Class later. DiveWerkz opened the team's second season in Eloy, as well. The 9.5 average is already a new team record after four SSL meets in 2004 (3.3 - 6.3 - 6.0 - 8.3) and an 8.7 average at the USPA Championship. The Divewerkz progression seems to continue.

The A Class competition at the Valentine's Meet included four teams. This was also a new record for the Southwest Skydiving League. This competition class has not been very popular in the SSL history and might get a push this year. The two teams of the Air Force Academy took the first two places in Eloy. Air Force Quad gave away only the very first round to the team's internal rival, Air Force Prodigy. Enjoy the first round of new NSL-TV 2005. The first round can now be discussed in the NSL Forum.