posted Jul 28th, 2006 - The NSL News visited at Skydive Twin Cities last weekend and observed the 3rd meet of the Northern Plains Skydiving League 2006 live on site. Beautiful weather greeted the eight teams on Saturday morning, and the meet progressed quickly with a Twinotter as the jump plane on a very busy day.

Regional USPA Director John Goswitz once again judged the NPSL competition. The scores were posted for the teams and uploaded to last weekend's leaderboard before the teams went up for each next round. NPSL Director Sandy Grillet was able to complete all six rounds on Saturday and release the teams early.

The NPSL teams and competitors spread great spirits throughout the competition day, as previous stories of earlier meets had already indicated. This time, the NSL News had the opportunity to be a witness of the friendly and competitive atmosphere in the Northern Plains.

NPSL Director Sandy Grillet is a passionate 4-way competitor with his team Microburst, and he is always a part of the action himself. In addition to his own passion, his son and center partner Nick Grillet shares the 4-way fun with him. Nick Grillet is the Center Outside for Microburst, while father Sandy Grillet sits in the driver's seat on Center Inside. Ken Flanagan (Tail) and Cliff Roy (Point) complete the line-up.

Microburst is not the only family affair in the Northern Plains. Team Cockeyed consists of the whole Oolman family. Just as Microburst, father and son work together in the center, as well, Mike Oolman on Center Outside and son Aaric Oolman on Center Inside. Mother Wendy Oolman is the Tail, and Kim Rehm filled the Point slot at last weekend's competition.

Cockeyed was one of the big winners at the 3rd NPSL meet. The 5.7 average was the highest meet average of the 2006 season and in team history. Cockeyed competed in the Northern Plains AA Class competition last year, as well.

The family business in the Northern Plains has more to offer. Last weekend's Cockeyed Tail, Kim Rehm, shares the 4-way passion with her husband Bill Rehm, who is the driving force for Fast Forward. The team's 2006 line-up with Steve Blake (Point), Kevin Burkart (Tail), Aaron Hislop (Center Inside) and Bill Rehm (Center Outside) stepped up into the AAA Class competition this year.

Fast Forward had broken the 10.0 average in the AA Class in 2005 (9.0 - 10.2 - 8.8 - 10.2 - 10.7) and has worked on the same goal this year.

The breakthrough in the AAA Class happened last weekend in Baldwin after well planned training and a consistent progression (7.3 - 8.7 - 10.5) in 2006.

Fast Forward did not win the AAA Class competition last weekend. Four experienced NPSL 4-way competitors put together the AAA Class team The Crowd Loves Us for this meet. Jon Arnold, Christopher Golden, Greg Heideman and Andy Junghans enjoyed their pick-up team's performance, had a great time and finished with an 11.5 average after six rounds. This is the scoring level that Fast Forward has in mind for the next meet.

Gang Green was the third team in the AAA Class and impressed with a record performance, as well. The 9.5 average was the highest result in team history and beat the previous the team's best average of 8.2 significantly. Gang Green consisted of Mary Bauer (Point), Miles Hubbard (Center Inside), Tom Joles (Tail) and Bob Stumm (Center Outside).

I Don't Know has been the only NPSL team in the A Class competition this year and has attended each of the three meets so far. Eric Blair, Marcus Burnham, Scott Dalby, David Hale and Troy Johnson joined for last weekend's event and reached new scoring levels in Baldwin.

The team's highest scores for a single round were 2-pointers before last weekend's competition. The 3rd NPSL meet brought a new experience for this line-up. The 5-pointer in round one and another 4-pointer in round five helped to lift the team's best meet average and added motivation for the rest of the season.

The 4th and last competition of the NPSL 2006 season is scheduled for September 1st at the Couch Freak Boogie.