posted Jun 28th, 2006 - The new round of NSL-TV continues with the coverage of the May 20 weekend. Teams of the Southwest Skydiving League and the Florida Skydiving League were part of a record breaking participation with a total of 65 teams competing in the USA and in Europe at the same time.

The complete leaderboard of the May 20 competition still offers an overview of all scores, and the links to the video files can be found at the same page. Of course, the currently featured NSL-TV videos are always specifically pointed out at the NSL-TV page, as well. The specific event pages of each league also offer links to the previous rounds.

The SSL and FSL teams are now jumping the same rounds and the same sequences on NSL-TV, and round four has recently been uploaded. Elsinore Gravity once again posted the highest score of the AAA/Open Class round (K-22-6) with a 17-pointer. Cross Keys Air Pollution of the MidAtlantic Skydiving League and Mystic Rhythms of the Mideast Skydiving League shared the highest score in the AA/Intermediate Class with 9-pointers for the same sequence. Skydive City won this round in the A Class with a 9-pointer, as well. Luckiest Guy in Raeford was also the best Rookie Class team with five points for this round.

This new round of NSL-TV includes once again the meet video of the British national 4-way team in the female category, Perris Airkix. The team's execution of Block 1 (Snowflake - Offset) in round two of the same competition caught the attention of other competitors and judges when it was shown on NSL-TV. NSL News stories on June 12 and June 14 explained the situation and the related concerns, and they included feedback from SSL event judge Judy Celaya, DeLand Fire member Gary Smith and Airkix coach Dan BC.

The judging issue was not completely resolved by then since there were still differences as of how the specific vertical technique for this block should be judged at future events. The NSL News asked Judy Celaya for more feedback and additional reviews of the technique, and another experienced FAI judge, Klaus Wellens, joined the discussion.

Judy Celaya took the extra time and reviewed the Airkix jump once again, while Klaus Wellens evaluated the jump on NSL-TV in Germany. Both came to a new and much clearer conclusion this time: "This was not a judgement call situation. It was a clear centerpoint violation that would not be accepted at an international event."

Judy Celaya added that this example will once again alert the judges to carefully evaluate the vertical techniques where certain rotations are required: "Because of this instance, there is a good likelyhood that all judges will be extra careful with vertical transitions where degrees of turn are required. The teams should plan their dives accordingly."

Klaus Wellens commented the Airkix situation in May and added that other judges had confirmed his view: "Penalty 1 (inter 4-5) is a clear infringement because of what Gary Smith already mentioned. The subgroups pass the centerpoint on the wrong side and did not fulfil the requirements of the degrees of turn. Penalty 2 (inter 14-15) is another clear centerpoint violation."

He provided additional information and tried to help with a general clarification: "First: the team has to show the required degrees of turn. Second: the centerpoint is the borderline for the subgroups. This MUST be really clear for all competitors, coaches and judges."

Perris Airkix has moved on in the meantime. The team already completed its second meet of the 2006 season on June 10 in Great Britain, and the next Grand Prix event is scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Airkix also currently gives back to the 4-way community with an interactive on-line coaching service for the British Parachute Association (BPA).

Julia Foxwell, Emma Hammersley, Amanda Kemp and Claire Scott will respond to on-line questions for a time period of approx. four months before a new coach will take the hot seat. The team has already posted a lot of valuable 4-way information at this coaching page, which is open for the general public.