posted Jan 7th, 2008 - The recent newsletter sent by StartSkydiving.com's manager, Kip Lohmiller, included a paragraph that brought great news to the 4-way community in the league's region:

"Mr. Mike Ashley has taken control of the MESL! So Mike, John and I are looking for skydivers that want to train and play in the league. All licensed are welcome. For all the details please contact Mike Ashley. AND SPRED THE WORD AROUND TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!"

It was not surprising for the NSL News since Mike Ashley had already communicated his interest and motivation with the NSL headquarters before the announcement. Mike Ashley has actually been well known to NSL insiders, due to his outstanding commitment and passion for 4-way competition. He provided the NSL News with valuable feedback several times in the past years.

The Mideast Skydiving League had a very slow season in 2007 and needed new leadership. Former Fastrax member Niklas Hemlin had taken over the MESL management from Randy Connell at the beginning of the 2007 season and was not able to follow through, neither with his team nor with the league's activities.

The Mideast Skydiving League ended up with four teams at one meet at the new home dropzone for Team Fastrax, StartSkydiving.com. The former Indiana Skydiving League used to attract an average of five to six teams to the monthly events when Randy Connell launched the league in 2001 and turned it into the Mideast Skydiving League in 2005.

Mike Ashley was around when the league was launched and participated in many events ever since. In fact, he is one of the most experienced competitors in this area of the United States.

He is originally from Canada and made his first jump in November 1973 in Baldwin, Ontario. He had a total of approx. 5200 jumps at the end of the 2007 season. He is familiar with almost all generations of recent skydiving history. He started with a static line, and his first own equipment was a "belly wart" with a Cobra main canopy, a copy of of the PS-06. He has used just about every kind of equipment ever since.

His true and addictive passion for 4-way began in 1977. He has competed in both 4-way and 8-way as the events developed into what they are today. Mike Ashley still had to perform Star - Backloop - Star at his first 4-way competition in 1977. He has seen all changes of the dive pool and the rules ever since.

He has filmed 4-way teams in the past years, including Mystic Rhythms, where his son Jared was turning points. However, he was a successful Canadian competitor himself. His merits include the Ontario provincial 4-way championships from 1978 through 1981, 4-way gold medals in the Intermediate Class of the Canadian Nationals 1988 and Canadian 8-way silver medals in 1991.

He flew with current 4-way veterans and celebrities. Golden Knight Kurt Isenberger was in his team Conjure in 1995, together with Morgan Case and Paul Orr. The team came to a 9.6 average after a year of training. Kurt Isenberger is a current member of Team KnightTrax, the national US 8-way team for 2008.

Mike Ashley has not had enough 4-way training and competition yet: "I have been flying 4-way video for various teams from 1996 through the present day. I still hope to put together enough cash and return to competition soon as a flyer instead of the videographer. The kids are out of the house, but we still have the mortgage to pay and all that..."

However, he added that his son Jared "somehow caught the 4-way bug and is now an excellent competitor on his own". Father Mike did the video job for his son's team Mystic Rhythms (John Woody, Anders Mattson, Shane Willis, Jared Ashley) in 2006. The team finished with an 11.6 average at the USPA Nationals in the Intermediate Class.

Jared Ashley has recently left home and moved to Arizona. He wants to make his own skydiving career. This move was somehow scary for his father. Of course, he still supports his son's desire and wishes him the best. The NSL News audience will probably find Jared Ashley's name soon in one of the west coast line-ups.

Mike Ashley has his own philosophy about skydiving and 4-way competition, and it matches with the NSL mission:

"All skydivers can have fun together, learn from each other, regardless of discipline or experience levels."

The MESL skydiving community can look forward to a season where a passionate league director will work together with a professional dropzone management. The MESL comeback and upswing is in the works and very promising.