posted Mar 6th, 2024 - The aftermath of the Wind Games 2024 included a closer look at Qatar's 4-way delegation, who competed in full force in Spain. All three Qatar coaches, Andy Grauwels (Tigers), Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen (Lions and Cheetahs) were also present with their teams in Ampuriabrava.

Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen spend a lot of time together and have usually the same travel agenda, while the Tigers have their own and separate plans with Andy Grauwels, as well as the Falcons 8-way team with their coach Jeremie Rollett. Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen once again took time to discuss the current situation of their teams after the Wind Games with the NSL News.

They were not done with the recent trip to Europe after the first stop in Spain. The NSL News mentioned earlier that they had Germany's national indoor championship on the meet schedule. They traveled to the Hurricane Factory in Berlin, where the 17-foot flying chamber accommodates 4-way and 8-way competition. Lions and Cheetahs will compete in Berlin, while the Tigers skipped the visit at Germany's capital city. The Falcons 8-way team will neither join the indoor showdown between the two German top contenders, Operation Adler and Airbus.

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NSL Live Talk with Luc Verstrepen and Gary Smith

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Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen gave credit to Andy Grauwels with the Qatar Tigers, the national team in 4-way Open, who seem to be back on an upswing, after falling well below the 30+ indoor average level for a while. However, they pointed out that the competition draw at the Wind Games was less challenging compared to the one that 4-way teams were facing at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2024 on the same weekend.

The NSL News also mentioned in the same previous Qatar update that management and coaches had decided to change the lineups of Lions and Cheetahs and create a more competitive environment. The lineup of the Lions now consists of the strongest performers of the two teams behind the Tigers, which was confirmed by the scoring and performance level at the Wind Games.

The team members of Lions and Cheetahs know now that the path to becoming a member of the national team in 4-way Open, or possibly also of the 8-way team, begins with the Cheetahs and continues with a slot in the Lions lineup before potential selection for the national teams. Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen said that it was not easy to select the new lineups for Lions and Cheetahs, as the performance level and talent of Cheetahs members is not far behind the Lions.

Wind Games 2024			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		16,4,17		G,E,9,Q		21,K,D,13		A,B,15,20		3,5,F		J,C,P,19		1,8,H		18,7,L		2,10,6		O,22,14		Total	Avg
1	Aethers Medjay	FR	30		53		32		34		38		43	-1	26	-2	32	-1	25		25	-2	338	33.8
2	Qatar Tigers	QA	26		43	-2	26	-3	31		35	-1	38	-1	27	-1	29		23		23		301	30.1
3	NFTO	UK	25		42	-2	27		27		28	-2	39		26		27		20	-1	21	-1	282	28.2
4	ISR Fireflash	BE	22	-1	43	-1	25		28		33		40		21	-2	23	-3	20	-1	22		277	27.7
5	Qatar Lions	QA	23	-1	41	-2	25	-2	27	-1	32		34		23		25		20	-1	22		272	27.2
6	Papea 1	ES	23	-1	33	-3	26		25	-2	28	-2	38		25	-1	26		21		21	-1	266	26.6
7	Nephtys	FR	21	-1	42	-2	25	-1	24	-3	30		35	-2	21	-2	25	-1	21		21		265	26.5
7	Fly X	IT	22	-1	35	-4	26	-1	26		31		32	-2	26		28		19	-1	20	-2	265	26.5
9	FCUK Weembi	UK	22	-1	43		29		25	-2	25	-3	33	-1	20	-1	23	-3	23		20	-1	263	26.3
10	Chimera	UK	21		42	-1	25		29		27	-2	33	-1	22		25		20		18	-2	262	26.2
11	Airbus Illertissen Oceanside	DE	21		36	-3	23		26	-1	29		35		23		25		19		19		256	25.6
12	Autrement Nice	FR	22		35	-3	25		25		28		34		21		24		20		18	-1	252	25.2
13	Once Pakoi	FR	18	-1	33		23		24		26		29	-1	23		24		19		19		238	23.8
14	Qatar Cheetahs	QA	21		37	-1	19		24	-2	24	-4	32		19	-2	22		17		19	-2	234	23.4
15	Windabona Alakran	ES	21		28	-6	24		20	-3	24	-1	31		23		23	-1	15	-3	16	-3	225	22.5
16	Viserion	UK	17	-2	35		22		21	-1	24	-2	28	-2	19		20		17		15	-2	218	21.8
17	HSV Red Bull AerodynamiX	AT	17	-2	34	-4	21	-2	17	-5	18	-5	29		21		17	-4	18		18	-2	210	21.0
18	Papea 2	ES	17	-2	28		21		21		22		28		16		20		17		16	-3	206	20.6
18	Airdrops	CH	16	-2	32	-1	21		19	-2	26		23	-3	16	-2	20		16		17		206	20.6
20	Windabona Angels	ES	17	-1	28		19	-2	18	-3	22	-1	27		20		20	-1	17		16	-1	204	20.4
21	HiFly Madrid Kalash	ES	17	-3	29	-5	20	-3	16	-6	24	-1	25	-5	19	-1	19	-2	14	-3	12	-6	195	19.5
22	Magyx	ES	12		20		13	-2	11	-1	13		16		13		14		10	-1	12		134	13.4
23	Aerium	ZA	13		18	-3	13	-1	9	-5	16		15	-1	12	-1	12	-1	10	-1	11	-1	129	12.9
24	Falling Stones	ES	7	-2	12	-4	11		8	-3	8	-1	14		15		11		9	-2	10		105	10.5

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Qatar Tigers - Lions - Cheetahs at the Wind Games 2024, video footage couretsy of InTime

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The coaches said that the best performers of the Cheetahs are not far behind the Lions level. This situation should make it easier to replace or substitute members whenever necessary.

The modified format of the Qatar 4-way delegation has not changed the cooperation between coaches Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen. They still work together with both teams and coordinate their plans. They even switch back and forth between the two teams from time to time and exchange their experiences.

Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen are aware of the situation that relates to the Qatar Tigers. The national 4-way team's lineup may not continue forever, after almost 15 years together. There will be a time when new 4-way world class competitors from Qatar have to step into the spotlight and represent their country. The coaches know that passion and desire of the team members are a crucial part of the sport and for the selection of new team members in the future. For now, Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen are dealing more with a very urgent problem in Berlin. Cheetahs member Nasser Al Yafei had to leave and travel back to Qatar for pressing personal reasons. Alternate Jaber Al Marri will take the open slot for the meet, and his Cheetahs team mates will move to different slots, as well. The Lions compete with their current lineup.