posted Oct 12th, 2026 - The aftermath of the USPA Nationals 2026 is not yet behind us, even as the next major event approaches: the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026. Arizona Airspeed, the 4-way Open Class champions at Skydive Perris, are back home in Eloy and have wasted no time getting started on their next training phase. However, this is not the final preparation for the outdoor world meet. In fact, Airspeed have already incorporated indoor training into their plans now that their outdoor competition season is over. The team intends to compete indoors this coming winter and has the 14-foot chamber of the SkyVenture Arizona wind tunnel in Eloy available whenever they are ready to resume indoor training.

For the Golden Knights, however, the outdoor season is not over yet. They will represent the United States in 4-way Open at the outdoor world championship. After processing the outcome of the USPA Nationals, the team needed to identify the lessons that could prove useful and productive for its immediate future. These will be particularly important ahead of the anticipated 4-way showdown with France's Aethers Lille and Belgium's NMP PCH HayaBusa.

The Golden Knights had scheduled training jumps for Monday, although the weather once again disrupted their plans in Arizona. Nevertheless, team captain Jesse Stahler and coach Niklas Hemlin were available for NSL Live Talk once the day's 4-way work was done.

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Unfiltered NSL Live Talk with Niklas Hemlin and Jesse Stahler on 12 October 2026

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The conversation began with some small talk about shared competition experiences and other parts of life before eventually turning to the events at the USPA Nationals. The NSL News had the opportunity to conduct an NSL Live Talk with Arizona Airspeed in Perris following the conclusion of the national 4-way thriller. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights had quickly departed for North Carolina before heading back to the West Coast for the upcoming outdoor world championship and final preparations with coach Niklas Hemlin.

The USPA Nationals were impossible to leave out of the conversation, as the audience had not yet had the opportunity to hear direct feedback from the U.S. Army team and its coach. That opportunity arose when the weather conditions in Eloy shortened the Golden Knights' training day on Monday.

Team captain Jesse Stahler and coach Niklas Hemlin used the extra time after the early end to their training day to discuss the team's situation between the USPA Nationals and the FAI Outdoor World Championship. The circumstances are challenging not only for the Golden Knights in the wake of the USPA Nationals results but also for coach Niklas Hemlin. Although he did not compete in 4-way Open at Skydive Perris, he has now also become an active member of Paraclete XP's 8-way lineup.

USPA Nationals 2026		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	A,9,B,D		5,C,L,15		F,7,8		E,H,13,N		16,P,M,20		Q,G,11,21		4,12,17		22,O,2		19,6,J		18,1,K		Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	47		25	-2	26		31	-1	26	-1	18		20	-1	20		23		18	-2	254	25.4
2	Golden Knights	38	-4	27	-1	25		30	-2	27	-1	19	-4	20		21		25	-1	19	-2	251	25.1

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Arizona Airspeed - Golden Knights at the USPA Nationals 2026

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The NSL update on October 6th reported the breaking news that SDC Rhythm XP member Doug Barron would not continue with XP8 after the USPA Nationals and through the outdoor world championship. Following an emergency call, Niklas Hemlin agreed to fill the vacant slot. He is now facing double duties in both 4-way and 8-way in Eloy next week.

The NSL News update briefly mentioned that Niklas Hemlin faces a very special version of 4-way and 8-way double duties. He is competing only in 8-way, while remaining fully engaged in his coaching role with the Golden Knights' 4-way team. He must get the best out of the U.S. Army team if they are to have a chance at winning 4-way gold or silver medals. Meanwhile, XP8 faces a formidable challenge in its bid for 8-way gold against the well-prepared Qatar Falcons.

Niklas Hemlin has no previous experience juggling 4-way and 8-way duties in this way. He won an 8-way gold medal with Airspeed XP8 at Tanay 2021, while SDC Rhythm XP competed in 4-way. However, neither at the USPA Nationals nor at the FAI Outdoor World Championships has he had to spend the entire competition day at the drop zone while delivering winning performances in both events. That will change in Eloy next week, when he will be aiming for gold medals in both disciplines: coaching the Golden Knights in 4-way while competing as an active member of the XP8 lineup in 8-way. However, if anyone can handle that level of pressure, it is probably Niklas Hemlin.

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