posted May 30th, 2007 - Katja and Bernd Düring both work for the police in Berlin, Germany. The police department of the new German capitol has a sports club, "Polizei-Sport-Verein Berlin" (PSV Berlin), which includes a skydiving school. Katja and Bernd Düring joined the club and started their skydiving career. They have approx. 300 (Katja) and 400 (Bernd) jumps by now.

The married couple joined forces with two other club members of the police department in 2006 (Martina Prautzsch and Sascha Spyra) and formed a new 4-way team. Their team did not have a name before they made a trip to Kassel/Calden, where the biggest German skydiving center is located.

The PSV Berlin team got ready for a weekend training and showed up early in the morning at the dropzone. This June morning in Kassel/Calden changed the skydiving world for the team members. Team speaker Bernd Düring still remembers their experience and reported the story in the police club's journal next month:

"When we came to the hangar in the morning with our equipment we could hardly believe our eyes. Two national 4-way teams were already boarding the Twinotter - DeLand Fire from the USA and Italy's Sinapsi PD. We were at the same place and at the same time with our role models, our heroes, and we would even be in the same plane?"

They realized that it was not an illusion and continued with their own preparations. Bernd Düring remembers that there was a very focused atmosphere at the skydiving center at that time. The present jumpers were all making efforts to show their best performances and behavior.

Several other teams were visiting and observing the two top teams performing their training routines. DeLand Fire and Sinapsi PD were already in Germany to prepare for the World Meet 2006, which would take place a few weeks later in Gera. The PSV Berlin members were very impressed, as Bernd Düring explained:

"The two top teams had their own packers and brought extra equipment, so they could make as many training jumps as possible. They showed us a professional training environment that we had not seen before."

The DeLand Fire visit in Kassel/Calden had a serious impact on the police team from Berlin. It was now easy for the members to find a name for their new team. "PSV Fire" was born, and the motivation was on the highest point possible.

Training plans were made for the winter season in Europe, which included a windtunnel camp at Bodyflight Bedford and a lot of physical exercising and creeping sessions in Berlin. The preparations also included a team order of NSL Gloves and requests for league information in Germany.

Bernd Düring and his team mates have been promoting skydiving as a sport with a lot of energy in their hometown. Their activities reach outside of the police club and include demo jumps and seminars for the general public. The motivation that comes with the 4-way team has even increased the efforts, which now include the PR work for PSV Fire.

The PSV Fire members were not aware of the "Deutsche Sky Liga" in Germany, which is affiliated with the international NSL network of 4-way leagues and competitions. The delivery of NSL Gloves to Berlin came along with DSL information. The perspective of attending a few competitions in the A Class added to the excitement of the new team.

Former Swiss national team member and coach of the German 8-way team FSC Remscheid, Mike Vetter, now works with PSV Fire at their home dropzone in Gransee, an hour north of Berlin.

The first test in 2007 for PSV Fire is coming up this weekend. The northern part of the German league has scheduled its season opener for the same weekend as eight other leagues. The skydiving center in Kassel/Calden is hosting the event, and PSV Fire will return to the place where it all began. Only DeLand Fire and Sinapsi PD will not be there this time...