posted Jun 24th, 2026 - There was not only a "Ghost Team" at the Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2026, as the NSL News reported on June 22nd. NMP PCH HayaBusa coach Gary Smith was also a constant presence in the minds of the Belgian team that he guided to its first FAI World Championship gold medal in 2014 and again to world titles in 2016, 2018, and 2021.

Gary Smith did not travel to North Carolina. He continues to work primarily with NMP PCH HayaBusa and other teams in Europe. However, his influence was evident throughout the competition. Together with team videographer David Grauwels, he knows the current HayaBusa lineup better than anyone else and has been carefully preparing the team for the challenges ahead, beginning with the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026 in October and continuing toward the next world championship in 2028.

While Gary Smith followed the competition from Europe, he remained in close contact with the team. He often received updates directly from HayaBusa before the latest scores appeared on NSL leaderboard. At the same time, David Grauwels was already conducting his own analysis in freefall while filming the team. Few people are better qualified to evaluate HayaBusa's performance. David Grauwels flew inside center when the Belgian team won its four FAI World Championship gold medals and remains an important part of the team's technical preparation today.

At the highest level of 4-way competition, every minute of a meet weekend is valuable. Teams and coaches use all available time to review performances, analyze video, and discuss adjustments for the next round. For that reason, the NSL News had to wait until the competition was completed before speaking with the team captains, including Dennis Praet, who agreed to provide a brief summary of the weekend after all ten rounds had been completed. Meanwhile, German national team Airbus Illertissen had to be patient as well. Coach Gary Smith divided his attention between his work in Germany and his unofficial "Ghost Coaching" role with HayaBusa throughout the competition weekend. Only after the meet concluded was he fully available again at home. By Wednesday, he was finally able to contribute an important part of the NSL News aftermath and offer his assessment of a weekend that produced record performances from all three top teams.

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NSL Live Talk with Gary Smith on 24 June 2026

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XP Summer Classic 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open/Advanced Class		L,O,15,10		8,G,17		13,1,21		K,2,E,B		14,18,A		20,Q,J,F		4,H,6		9,N,12		3,16,11		M,D,5,P		Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	23		25		23		31	-1	21		31		24		25		20		38		261	26.1
2	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	24		23		22	-1	27	-3	20	-1	33		22		25		23		38		257	25.7

NMP PCH HayaBusa must have had a productive debriefing after the first day of competition and the opening seven rounds. The Belgian team returned on Sunday with renewed confidence and energy, despite an early setback in Round 8. A missed completion of Block 12 (Bundy - Bundy) on the first page proved costly, yet HayaBusa recovered immediately and still matched the highest score of the round. The strong response continued in Round 9, where HayaBusa outscored both the Golden Knights and Arizona Airspeed by three points. All three teams then posted the same score in Round 10 to conclude the competition. HayaBusa's performance on the second day reduced its deficit to the Golden Knights from seven points after Saturday's seven rounds to only four points at the end of the meet.

The gap between the two leading contenders for the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026 has narrowed significantly since their previous outdoor meeting. At the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025, the Golden Knights finished nine points ahead of NMP PCH HayaBusa. At the Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2026, that margin was reduced to four points. The numbers become even more interesting when viewed in a broader context. Both teams completed the competition with record averages for their current lineups, confirming that they are continuing to raise their performance levels as the World Championship approaches. At the same time, they likely reduced the gap to the sport's current benchmark, the "Ghost Team" of the XP Summer Classic, the Aethers.

The French team was not present in North Carolina, yet its influence was felt throughout the competition. As the reigning indoor world champions from April 2025 and winners of the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025, the Aethers remain the reference point for every team with world championship ambitions. Their next outdoor training camp begins tomorrow in Pamiers. It would not be surprising if the French team adds another indirect connection to the XP Summer Classic by incorporating the same competition draw into its training schedule. If so, the comparison between the world's top contenders will continue, even though they are separated by an ocean and will not meet again until the most important competition of the season in October.

FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		B,Q,19,F		G,13,K,A		12,7,8		16,E,6		1,J,9		10,15,21		5,18,L		M,20,11		C,17,2		22,O,P,3		Total	Avg
1	Aethers Lille	FR	36	-2	36		20	-1	25		29		20		24	-1	24		24	-1	25		263	26.3
2	Golden Knights	US	33		31	-2	20		24	-1	27	-1	16	-2	23		24		24		24		246	24.6
3	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	33		28	-3	19		24		30		18	-1	19	-2	22		21	-1	23		237	23.7

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Aethers - Golden Knights - NMP PCH HayaBusa at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025

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Gary Smith, NMP PCH HayaBusa, and the Golden Knights are fully aware that the Aethers currently hold the advantage. The French team has demonstrated its superiority at the most recent indoor and outdoor international events and remains the benchmark for the rest of the world. However, the dynamics at the highest level of any sport often work in a predictable way. Once a team reaches the top and establishes the highest performance level, further improvement becomes increasingly difficult. Progress tends to come in smaller increments, while the chasing teams have more room to improve and a better opportunity to close the gap.

That may be exactly what is happening in the ongoing three-way battle among the Aethers, the Golden Knights, and NMP PCH HayaBusa. With less than four months remaining before the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026, the French team will be focused on maintaining and strengthening its position, while the American and Belgian challengers continue their pursuit. The next opportunity to measure progress will come in August when the Golden Knights and NMP PCH HayaBusa meet again at the CISM World Championship. The U.S. team will then face Arizona Airspeed at the USPA Nationals 2026 in September before all of the leading contenders travel to Skydive Arizona for the World Championship in October.

Gary Smith believes that the current performance levels of all three teams may already be close enough to produce a genuine battle over ten rounds in Eloy. On paper, the Aethers would likely have the advantage if all teams perform at their respective averages. Their recent results suggest that they remain the most complete team in the world.

1st Bob Hallett Memorial 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		P,12,7		N,L,2,H		13,4,3		E,J,6,Q		K,O,B,8		D,5,21		19,22,A		F,9,14		15,18,1		16,G,17		Total	Avg
1	Aethers	FR	26		33		23		37		28	-1	27		25	-1	29		18	-1	25	-1	271	27.1
2	Golden Knights	US	26	-1	29	-2	20	-1	31	-3	27		25	-1	22	-1	25	-1	19		21	-1	245	24.5

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InTime competition videos of Aethers - Golden Knights at the Shamrock Showdown 2026 - 1st Bob Hallett Memorial

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World championships, however, are not won on paper. If the Aethers perform at their average level while either the Golden Knights or NMP PCH HayaBusa reaches a peak performance in October, the competition could become far more interesting than recent results might indicate. The margin between victory and defeat at the highest level is often determined by a few points, a few key rounds, or a single exceptional performance when it matters most. At the moment, both challengers appear to need a little assistance from the French team. They may have to hope that the Aethers leave some room for others to catch up.

The problem is that the French team has shown no signs of slowing down. Despite holding the lead, the Aethers continue to train aggressively and refine their performance. Their next outdoor training camp begins in Pamiers this week, while their rivals continue searching for the gains necessary to close the gap.

That reality may be the most compelling storyline of the 2026 season. The Golden Knights and NMP PCH HayaBusa are improving at a remarkable rate, as demonstrated by their record averages at the Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2026. Yet the team they are chasing remains fully committed to moving the target even higher. Whether the gap continues to shrink—or whether the Aethers maintain their advantage—will become clearer over the next four months. Either way, the path to the world championship title in Eloy promises to be one of the most intriguing contests in recent 4-way history.