OmniSkore! coverage of the 2007 US Nationals.
Omnibits by Tim Wagner

0645
It's a chilly breezy Tuesday morning and we are starting the day on a weather hold that looks like it might lift soon.

A peak in the mailbox...yes, I'll be happy to email you hi-res original team photos, send the request to wazt2@yahoo.com along with the team number and then send at least $1.00 to the U.S. Team Trust Fund.

Got this from email from big brother Chris:

Once again, Uncle Sam has me away from where I'd rather be, so yet again, please say Hi to all my skydiving Brothas and Sistas there at Skydive Chicago! Even the Canadian Judges, I still like them, too. Maybe.

Though this is the third Nationals I've missed because of tours in Afghanistan, today like no other reminds me of the importance of why I'm here. It does help to be working as Liaison to the 82nd Airborne! Roger Nelson's dad would be proud of how they are performing over here - and in Iraq as mentioned in the great NY Times article you forwarded - please pass him my regards, and that it's a privilege to serve here with them.

Blue Skies Always - and Remember Always the Victims of 9/11, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to insure it never happens again -

Chris Wagner D-5479 Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan

Thanks Chris!

All the judges are upstairs in the lounge passing time with tales of...well, this is a family-oriented web site, so I'll just say they're pulling a lot of fingers and opening the door a lot...

0815
Manifest just gave a 15-minute call to resume 8-way.

0930
It's sunny and breezy now and we finally got some teams getting judged. Meanwhile Jan has activated the Style & Accuracy pages and is working on some photos. SPX 8 just posted another solid round and has taken the lead in 8-way Intermediate after 4 rounds.

Airspeed 8 just added two points to their lead despite one bust. It looks like the real fun races will be in Intermediate: SPX 8 and Carolina Black Ice fighting for the gold, Cross Keys T.F.R. and Perris Activ8 for the bronze.

I got drafted back to judging some 8-way so updates will be a wee slow...

1130
8-way is done through round 5 and we are now on a wind hold. The USPA wind blade is more horizontal than perpendicular to the ground. Arizona Airspeed is about to lap the field in the Open, while SPX and CBI are tied up again in a see-saw battle for the Intermediate gold.

Heh. A reader writes:

Is that Dennis Rook on the creeper? Man he looks old!! Seriously, Tim, thank you for keeping all of us RW junkies in the loop. Enjoy a nice glass of wine tonight.

No, that's Jack Jefferies on the creeper of course, and I'll hoist that glass of wine tonight and toast his glorious competition skydiving career, and those guys behind him, too...

1300
Still on a wind hold, and I hear we'll be that way until 1530...

1500
Manifest just announced that wind hold festivities will continue through 1700 and if it's still windy then they will call it a day.

1700
Manifest just called it a day, 0700 start tomorrow. Weather forecast is cool temps and lower winds. Good night and see you tomorrow!

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Note: All Omnibits commentary are the expressed opinions of the writer, not USPA or Skydive Chicago.