226 Pecan Street
Deland FL 32724
tel: (386) 801-0804
© 2003 - 2024
All Rights Reserved
It was a dramatic finish in the AAA/Open Class competition, which the audience of the live streaming service was able to follow on-site and on-line. NMP-PCH Hayabusa was in big trouble before Round 10.
The Belgian 4-way world champions were far ahead of SDC Rhythm XP after Round 9 (268 - 244).
However, the 14-point lead could have melted away in Round 10 when the team was missing a member and needed help. Hayabusa did not have their usual alternate available.
Sven Ibens, original Hayabusa member, competed with Thunder ISR, and could not fill in. Former alternates Dennis Praet and Jeroen "Bob" Nollet are now members of the active lineup (Point - Tail), and a new alternate has not been selected and trained yet yet.
World Challenge 2015 | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 | Rd. 4 | Rd. 5 | Rd. 6 | Rd. 7 | Rd. 8 | Rd. 9 | Rd. 10 | Total | Avg | |
Rank | AAA/Open | 15,K,E,F | 11,22,A | 16,H,M,19 | 3,10,D | 17,18,P | 4,12,O | 5,N,L,G | 14,B,C,20 | 2,1,21 | J,Q,6,13 | Total | Avg |
1 | NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE) | 40 | 24 | 32 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 38 | 30 | 24 | 33 | 301 | 30.1 |
2 | SDC Rhythm XP (US) | 36 | 24 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 23 | 34 | 26 | 23 | 29 | 273 | 27.3 |
3 | Weembi Lille (FR) | 36 | 20 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 31 | 29 | 21 | 29 | 268 | 26.8 |
Fortunately, Hayabusa had still registered an alternate for the event, even though they never thought that the team might need him.
Ged Parker used to be the guardian of the gate to Bodyflight Bedford's flight chamber, and the Sun Path Products NSL News has often given special attention to his very entertaining personal welcome ceremony for each team.
He was upgraded to anchor more of the planned entertainment for the audience when host Paul Mayer launched his live streaming TV project at the World Challenge 2014.
Of course, he has the opportunity in Bedford to practice a lot, and he is a very well skilled indoor flyer. However, probably not in his wildest dreams he thought that he might have to compete with Hayabusa for the world's top spot in Round 10 when he agreed to register as the alternate.
The video of the whole story shows that he had actually taken David Grauwels hostage after Round 9 and kept him hidden away until the award ceremony.
He wanted to show the world that he can do what the Hayabusa members and other top teams have been doing at the World Challenge
He succeeded, as Hayabusa posted another highscore in Round 10 with him filling the slot for David Grauwels, who eventually freed himself just before the award ceremony.
Ged Parker's plot almost concluded perfectly when he ended up on the podium's top spot for the AAA/Open Class during the award ceremony. However, in the last minute, David Grauwels still made it to the Flow House and took his spot on the podium after a short exchange with Ged Parker...