posted Oct 3rd, 2026 - The NSL News update on September 29th covered the small 2026 edition of the ESL Championship, where the Belgian team Ayro peaked with an 18.9 team record average. The update also highlighted the team's status as one of the best amateur 4-way teams in the world.

However, today's update brings news that concludes the Belgian team's 4-way career in the shadow of NMP PCH HayaBusa. Being positioned behind the Belgian world-class team and FAI medal contender is not the main reason for Ayro's decision to bring its team career to an end, though. The team made the official announcement with a "heavy heart," despite rumors about the decision having circulated earlier.

The main reason for the decision is the growing Vandendael family, as Arne and Lena are expecting a baby. Even a new team record average and the potential that could come with it are not enough to convince a recreational 4-way team to continue. Ayro considered the options of reducing its training efforts or recruiting a new team member, but ultimately decided to bring the team project to a close on a very high note. Ayro said they could not think of a "better way to close out our 10th(!) outdoor season."

ESL Championship 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		B,22,Q,14		6,7,4		16,O,L,21		1,H,F,9		11,17,N		8,D,P,K		E,20,2		15,19,M		J,10,5		13,C,12		Total	Avg
1	AYRO	BE	17		19		21		25		17		21		19		19		15	-1	16		189	18.9
2	Dark NeVa	DE	12		12		15		17		12		14		13		13		12		14		134	13.4
3	Pace Gojump Gransee	DE	11		11		11		16		10	-1	14		12		11		9	-1	7	-1	112	11.2
4	Bazinga	DE	11		11	-3	12		13	-2	6	-2	12		12		11		11	-1	7	-1	106	10.6
Rank	AA Class		N,20,G		L,P,19		K,6,8		E,15,D		18,O,F		A,22,13		1,9		J,11,B		4,2		Q,14,H		Total	Avg
1	Steelers	UA	7		9		8		7		-		-		-		-		-		-		31	7.8

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Ayro (BE) at the ESL Championship 2026

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Ayro launched their 4-way team project in the A Class competition at the Belgian Outdoor Nationals 2017, where they posted a 10.2 average with three of the current team members (Els De Bie, Wim Dens, and Arne Vandendael). Ten years later, they have become one of the best amateur 4-way teams in the world, posting an 18.9 meet average last month:

"While we will all miss the team dynamics deeply, we are also incredibly happy and proud of how far we’ve come in this Ayro adventure. Looking back at where it all began, our journey started in early 2017 when four inexperienced rookies decided to start a team together.

That same outdoor season, we moved up to the A class, progressed to AA the following year, and were flying in AAA the year after that. Over the years, we've learned a lot and made a lot of progress. But most importantly, we've learned that technical skills alone cannot explain all the progress we've made — it's mostly boundless motivation, friendship, and openness that have truly held the team together."

Ayro was never shy about accepting help from experienced 4-way competitors, and they had 4-way world champions looking over their shoulders during the final three years: NMP PCH HayaBusa members Dennis Praet and David Grauwels.

Belgian Nationals 2017			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		22,L,G,M	6,N,H,B	4,18,A	C,P,2,11	20,F,E,K	21,17,7	16,D,15	O,14,13	19,12,Q	3,J,10	Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	26	38	23	28	32	24	25	21	21	24	262	26.2
2	ISR FireFlash	BE	18	25	16	20	21	17	16	16	17	17	183	18.3
3	Pink Illertissen	DE	14	21	14	15	18	12	13	13	12	15	147	14.7
4	JETMAX	BE	11	18	9	9	15	12	10	11	8	11	114	11.4
5	Stand down de bar is open	BE	11	11	9	10	11	9	8	9	6	10	94	9.4
6	Hold my Beer	BE	10	12	7	9	8	9	8	7	7	8	85	8.5
7	Gravity Abuse	BE	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2.0
Rank	AA Class		18,D,8	15,21	K,B,E,A	2,13	C,F,M,22	20,N,L	J,7,9	6,P,4	Q,G,19	14,O,11	Total	Avg
1	Falco	BE	9	8	17	9	13	11	13	11	11	9	111	11.1
2	Bad Habits	BE	7	7	14	7	10	8	11	9	7	6	86	8.6
3	Ahzoe	BE	6	7	14	5	9	8	11	10	9	6	85	8.5
Rank	A Class		21,P	4,Q	L,C,2	M,8	9,E	G,6	O,7	N,A,19	B,K,D	F,J,H	Total	Avg
1	Stardust	BE	9	7	10	10	13	8	12	11	15	20	115	11.5
2	Ayro	BE	10	10	9	9	10	7	10	6	12	19	102	10.2
3	Leading Edge	BE	8	10	7	6	9	7	12	5	13	15	92	9.2
4	De Daltons	BE	6	7	4	8	10	7	11	7	7	13	80	8.0
Rank	Rookie		M,L,D	K,F,Q	B,E,J	G,P,A	O,N,H	C,N,L	Q,G,J	A,E,F	C,D,P	M,B,H	Total	Avg
1	Aeropotam's	BE	14	16	15	9	13	9	12	20	18	20	146	14.6
2	4 West	BE	6	2	6	2	1	4	0	4	4	3	32	3.2

Ayro mentioned several other "Key People" who connected with the team in special ways over the past decade. Geens Karel was the very first team videographer, earning the "legendary status of Opa Ayro."

Original team member Kevin "Brownies" Bruyninckx was the tail, with the "best sense of humor in the history of skydiving." Maya Van Campenhout, a former ISR Fireflash member, was Ayro's first guide, "who believed in us right from the start." Her teammate Glenn Straeluyc was Ayro's first "official coach, who taught us that humour is vital in a team sport." Dennis Praet polished Ayro's rough edges, while David Grauwels "brought us to where we are today in the last three years."

Ayro was supported by Vigil AAD, LB Altimeters, Cookie Helmets, Aerodyne, and Pegasus Rigging Loft throughout the team's decade of 4-way competition. The team also appreciated the services of their riggers and packers, who allowed them to always be able "to jump with complete peace of mind." Skydive Flanders, with DZ Zwartberg, was the team's home DZ. The team members will continue to jump from planes, and they look forward to sharing memories and experiences with skydivers and 4-way competitors at drop zones in Belgium and around the world.

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