posted Mar 15th, 2022 - It happened that Gary Smith, coach of the Qatar Tigers and NMP PCH HayaBusa in the past years, arrived in Florida just a few days before the NSL News had scheduled the online interview with Airspeed coach Joey Jones and Ron Miasnikov.

Gary Smith was working with the Qatar Tigers again, while Jeremie Rollett was still at Skydive City with the Qatar Falcons. Jeremie Rollett had provided his thoughts with NSL Live Talk on March 3rd. Both Qatar coaches were following the Shamrock Showdown action very carefully, even though they missed the event in different ways.

Jeremie Rollett and his Qatar Falcons were at the event site at Skydive City hoping for an 8-way outdoor competition with XP8 or other U.S. teams, which did not materialize. They continued with their training when no other 8-way teams showed up for the Shamrock Showdown.

Gary Smith and the Qatar Tigers missed the event due to the scheduling. The Shamrock Showdown took place earlier this year, as the 2022 date fit better into the training and meet schedule of Arizona Airspeed and NMP PCH HayaBusa, who coordinated the event date together. The NSL Live Talk with Gary Smith took place at a very interesting point in time, and the topics were mostly related to his work with the Qatar delegation and his current relationship with NMP PCH HayaBusa.

---

FAI Outdoor World Meet 2018			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		21,L,B,G		22,18,17		19,7,O		J,16,12		10,A,D,15		Q,M,F,C,N		H,20,P,13		6,14,11		E,2,5		4,1,3		Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	24		21		18		24		19	-2	29		21		18	-1	17		33		224	22.4
2	Tanay	RU	21	-1	21		17		22	-1	20		28		16	-1	18		18		28	-1	209	20.9
3	Qatar Falcons	QA	19		16		15		18	-1	14	-1	21		16		14	-1	14		23	-1	170	17.0
FAI Outdoor World Meet 2021			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		O,19,Q,5		17,B,E,P		H,15,12		M,N,7,F		K,L,C,4		J,18,16		-		-		-		-		Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	32		41	-1	23		43		30	-4	24	-1	-		-		-		-		193	32.2
2	SDC Rhythm XP	US	25	-2	35	-5	22		39		26	-4	22		-		-		-		-		169	28.2
3	Qatar Tigers	QA	24	-1	38	-2	19		34		26		19	-2	-		-		-		-		160	26.7

---

Qatar Falcons in Australia 2018 - Qatar Tigers in Russia 2021

---

It is well known and has been documented comprehensively by the NSL News how the 4-way world champion of 2004 (DeLand Majik) and 2006 (DeLand Fire) guided NMP PCH HayaBusa to the top of the 4-way world in 2014 after becoming a full-time coach and beginning to work with the Belgian team in 2012.

His next relevant coaching assignment came when Qatar decided to pursue the world's top level in Formation Skydiving competition and began creating a foundation for the future, beginning with the 4-way national team (Tigers) and the Falcons in 8-way.

Gary Smith began his work with the 8-way team, which eventually won the first Formation Skydiving FAI medals for Qatar in Australia 2018. It was the same event where NMP PCH HayaBusa won their 3rd consecutive 4-way world championship title with coach Gary Smith.

The coaching situation became more delicate for Gary Smith when he and Jeremie Rollett switched their assignments for the Qatar delegation, beginning in 2019. He was now coaching two 4-way opponents, even though the Qatar Tigers were still miles behind NMP PCH HayaBusa, which easily justified his double duties with both teams.

---

---

NSL Live Talk with Gary Smith on 11 March 2022

---

NMP PCH HayaBusa added the next set of FAI gold medals to their collection last year at the FAI Tanay Mondial, where the Qatar Tigers finished once again far behind (32.2 - 26.7) the Belgian 4-way world champions. However, the Tigers now won the first FAI 4-way medals for Qatar, as in 2018 with coach Gary Smith.

The Tigers became even more eager to keep climbing the 4-way ladder, and they continued with the same lineup. That's when the unexpected personnel change for NMP PCH HayaBusa after last year's world meet changed the 4-way picture dramatically.

Arizona Airspeed took over the top spot in the world, at the latest after the results of the Shamrock Showdown. The Qatar Tigers did not compete at the event, however, coach Gary Smith is close enough with both teams to know that the table has turned between the two FAI medal contenders.

Neither Gary Smith nor NMP PCH HayaBusa are too concerned with the new situation. The Belgians knew that the rebuilding would take some time, and they have not been expecting to keep up with Arizona Airspeed this year. Gary Smith is working for a happy Qatar delegation who have the potential to win FAI medals in both traditional Formation Skydiving events in October this year. Gary Smith explained the details of the medal calculations during the NSL Live Talk, and why there is once again no conflict of interest.