posted Apr 17th, 2026 - The Golden Knights spent a few days at home before traveling to Florida for the Shamrock Showdown 2026 - 1st Bob Hallett Memorial. They arrived on Wednesday and were ready for training jumps on Thursday. The competition draw took place after both teams had completed their training jumps.

The Aethers, led by coach Mathieu Bernier, and the Golden Knights agreed to use the full dive pool for the competition, including Round 11, and to complete all rounds if weather conditions allow. If the teams are tied after Round 11, an additional round can be drawn quickly and easily from the full dive pool.

The infamous Round 1 was scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on Friday morning. The teams agreed to complete seven rounds on the first day, with the remaining four rounds set to conclude on Saturday morning.

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Round 1 at the Shamrock Showdown 2026 - 1st Bob Hallett Memorial

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Aethers and Golden Knights with Chief Judge Jim Rees on Friday morning

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The Aethers came close to losing the opening round of the outdoor competition at Skydive DeLand. The Golden Knights actually completed one more point within working time but received a one-point deduction for an infringement in the second half of the round. The last time the French national team lost a round was in October of last year at the USPA Nationals, when Arizona Airspeed outscored them in Round 1, followed by additional losses to the Golden Knights in Rounds 5, 7, and 9.

The Aethers went on to win the USPA Nationals as a guest team by five points over the Golden Knights (250–245), and it was the last outdoor competition for both teams. With their complete lineup in original slots, the Aethers had not conceded a single round in the following 20 indoor competition rounds since October 2025—until the Golden Knights nearly took Round 1 in DeLand.

However, the Aethers quickly returned to form in Round 2, finishing two points ahead at the end of working time. The Golden Knights lost another two points in that round, leaving the French team with a four-point lead after two rounds.

USPA Nationals 2025			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		O,4,5		21,12,22		6,J,H,G		N,2,20		L,13,A,F		7,19,M		1,14,18		9,10,15		17,E,8		C,3,P,K		Total	Avg
1	Aethers Lille	FR	23	-1	19		33		23		34		26		18		21		23	-1	30	-1	250	25.0
2	Golden Knights	US	21	-3	19		29		22		36		26		19		19	-2	26		28		245	24.5
3	Arizona Airspeed	US	24		17		27		19		29		23		15		17		22		23	-1	216	21.6
4	SDC Rhythm XP	US	19		14	-1	27		19		26	-1	22		15		16		19		19	-5	196	19.6
5	Elsinore Elevate	US	17	-1	14		23		17		26		21		15		16		19		21		189	18.9
6	Inertia AZ	US	16	-1	14	-1	24		16	-1	25		20		14		16		12	-5	20		177	17.7
7	The OGs	US	17		9	-3	21	-1	15	-1	21	-2	18		13		12	-2	16	-1	18	-2	160	16.0
8	Redline XP	US	14	-1	10	-1	18		14		22		13	-3	12		12		17		15	-1	147	14.7
9	Ranch TNT	US	13	-3	11		21		13		18		16	-1	11		12		14		12	-2	141	14.1
9	Double Trouble	US	14		11		18		12	-1	18		15		12		12		13	-1	16		141	14.1
11	Rhetirement Rhedux	US	12	-2	7	-3	16		11	-1	17		14	-1	9	-1	8	-2	10	-1	14		118	11.8
12	XP Angels	US	11	-1	9	-1	15	-2	11	-2	16	-1	13		10		7	-2	13	-1	12		117	11.7

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Aethers - Golden Knights at the USPA Nationals 2026

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