I watched dopefishlives participate in a 3 hour long racing league. The goal was to be in the top 5 highest level or top 3 highest class. They picked up lightning nova as soon as they could and also managed to pick-up ice nova. I know that between when he got ice nova and the end of the league the range of ice nova was increased.

How they increases seems based on what the skill is. I don't believe lightning nova gained any extra range, it was already large when they got it. Ice nova however was a smaller radius spell, the mobs needed to be almost in melee range.

Other than increases the parameters of the skill, damage, radius, duration, the only change that can be made to a skill is with support gems as the guide above says.

So leveling gems does not change the way the spell works, just how effective it is. Linking support gems can change the way the spell works.

What about gmail notifier? If you have a google mail account one of their feature is a program that checks your mail every 15 minutes. This would tell you within 15 minutes of getting a beta invite.