posted Jul 26th, 2014 - Creeper competitions have been around at event sites as long as 4-way teams and competitors have been using the training tools to prepare better for training and competition jumps.

Of course, they only take place when the weather does not allow any jumping from planes. Usually, it also takes a while until all hope for any competition round is gone, and all other activity options have been exhausted. Then, the announcement of a creeper competition often re-initiates energy and excitement levels.

The Sun Path Products NSL News reported a creeper competition on 21 April 2014 when teams in Florida could not get in the air. It was not the only one. The July meet of the Southern Skydiving League was also completely weathered out, and SSL Director Brandy Verhalen was well prepared to organize the alternate ground competition.

Apr 19th, 2014			Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class		E,A,M,L	N,D,O,K	H,F,Q,P	C,G,B,J	Total	Avg
1	Teiwaz AA (US)	FSL	16	12	18	20	66	16.5
2	FurtherZeus (US)	FSL	8	10	17	12	47	11.8
3	ZHills TranZend (US)	FSL	11	10	12	12	45	11.3
4	Zunday (US)	FSL	8	10	9	8	35	8.8
5	The Flying Fox (US)	FSL	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

Brandy Verhalen said that her SSL teams and competitors completed three rounds on the creepers and had great fun: "I haven't laughed so much during weather holds."

However, scores and footage of the creeper competition were kept confidential, even though the meet setup was like a real competition, with videographers at elevated spots and well defined rules. Brandy Verhalen said that the creeper competition was the inaugural event in Adventure Skydiving's new hangar, which was just concrete and beams when the event took place. USPA Director and FS judge Steve Helffrich and DZ operator Brooklyn Benjamin both observed the ground activities with great interest.

Even though it was great fun, Brandy Verhalen and her SSL teams and competitors are now hoping for better weather for the August meet on the 23rd at Gold Coast Skydiving.