posted Nov 27th, 2007 - The NSL Championship 2007 was actually supposed to be the stage for this year's last and ultimate showdown between Optic Nerve and Teiwaz, two of the longest standing 4-way teams in the skydiving world.

The NSL News story on October 29 mentioned that Optic Nerve had shown up in DeLand on Saturday morning of the 4-way competition. However, the weather did not allow any jumping that day, the forecast for Sunday was terrible, and Optic Nerve had given up any hope. The two completed rounds on Sunday were a surprise, as the NSL News reported in the same story, and only Teiwaz was on site to compete.

It was not the last opportunity in 2007 for the Optic Nerve - Teiwaz showdown. SkyQuest 2007 was still on the agenda for the November 17 weekend, and both teams began with their recruiting efforts.

Optic Nerve founder Dr. Joel Shugar had Solly Williams and Doug Park in the line-up for the Optic Nerve reunion at the missed NSL Championship 2007, as the NSL News story on October 13 had reported. Solly Williams was not available in November since he was a team captain for the Kaleidoscope Dives in DeLand.

Gary Smith, who had just returned from his summer work residence in the Netherlands, was able to fill the Center Outside slot at the invitational 4-way competition of SkyQuest 2007. Doug Park was available again and took the Center Inside position for Optic Nerve, while Scott Keeler (Point) and Dr. Joel Shugar (Tail) were in their usual slots.

Teiwaz welcomed another new 4-way competitor to the line-up of 40 members. Nick Grillet joined Teiwaz for the competition on November 17 and had the Center Outside position. His father Sandy Grillet, Northern Plains Skydiving League director, had introduced Nick in the NSL News story on September 27:

"For those who are interested: Somehow Nick was able to finagle his way into getting an invite from the Golden Knights to join their team for the 16-way competition. And somehow he was able to keep from hosing any of the exits as the rear, rear, rear anchor on the exits. And somehow he was able to keep from busting them on any of the rounds. And somehow he was able to keep up on all the points without slowing them down including the 19-point round three. And somehow he was able to ride this out to a silver medal (his first ever medal at the nationals). Could someone order him a larger hat. There'll be no livin' with him now... Thank God he's moving to Florida."

It will not become much easier for the proud daddy to keep up with his son in the future. Nick Grillet next competed with Perris Momentum in the AA Class competition at the NSL Championship 2007 and then ended up in the Teiwaz line-up for the ultimate Optic Nerve - Teiwaz showdown in November. The 15.3 average after seven rounds in the AAA Class was a personal best for Nick and obviously a huge step forward in his skydiving career.

None of the other three Teiwaz members (Jim "Bu" Klinge, Robert Chromy and Kurt Gaebel) had ever made a skydive with the new Center Outside before. Center Inside Jim Klinge had flown a few minutes in the windtunnel with him and knew about his talent. However, Round 1 was still the first rendezvous in freefall for this line-up.

The situation was the same for Jim Klinge and Robert Chromy. They competed together for the first time. Chromy had competed many times for Teiwaz in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The player coach position for CSC Rhythm in 2007 kept him too busy, and he did not join any Teiwaz line-up this year, while Bu competed with Teiwaz line-ups mostly at 2007 meets. Round 1 was a good start for the new Teiwaz line-up, as the scores show. Optic Nerve fell two points behind in the first round of the 2007 showdown.

Dr. Joel Shugar had just switched back to skydiving competition again from his eye surgery operation in Perry, Florida. He had completed an eye surgery on Perris Fury member Christy Frikken shortly after the NSL Championship 2007 and Fury's trip to Bodyflight Bedford, as the NSL News reported on November 12. Christy Frikken could not stay any longer in Florida and compete with her eye doctor at the next 4-way competition.