posted Aug 27th, 2025 - The NSL News reported earlier that the Qatar delegation at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2025 includes only the 8-way team, Qatar Falcons. The 4-way Open Class teams Cheetahs and Lions canceled their participation after the tragic loss of a Lions member, and the Qatar 4-way coaches Gary Smith and Luc Verstrepen had no work assignment any longer.

However, Gary Smith has lived in the Netherlands with this family, on the island of Texel, since 2008. Skydive Teuge is within driving distance for him, and he mentioned in earlier conversations that he was planning to visit the event as much as possible.

It is a natural connection that he has with the formation skydiving competition community who he has been a very popular part of for more than 30 years. He is a two-time 4-way world champion (DeLand Majik 2004, DeLand Fire 2006), and he was coaching NMP PCH HayaBusa to their four world championship titles between 2014 and 2021. His coaching career with the Qatar delegation had its first peak at the same location 10 years ago when he guided the Qatar Falcons to their first FAI medals, with their 3rd place at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2015 in Teuge. Ten years later, the Falcons are the top contender to win the gold medals, now with coach Jeremie Rollett.

FAI Outdoor World Cup 2015			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		1,4,D	E,3,L,G	C,16,N,9	13,J,11	Q,2,A,14	K,7,8	P,18,21	15,12,F	B,22,O,10	20,5,M	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Maubeuge	FR	28	30	23	18	18	17	18	26	19	18	215	21.5
2	Tanay	RU	24	24	19	17	17	15	14	20	15	15	180	18.0
3	Qatar Falcons	QA	17	19	15	12	13	13	12	15	13	14	143	14.3
4	M8trix	NL	20	17	15	12	11	11	13	17	12	11	139	13.9
5	Ex3energy	IT	11	10	12	9	8	9	11	11	10	8	99	9.9
6	Awkward Turtles	UK	7	4	5	6	3	6	5	2	4	4	46	4.6

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NSL Live Talk with Gary Smith at Skydive Teuge on Wednesday, August 27

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Without a work assignment for the Qatar delegation, Gary Smith had more time to spend with one of the most successful team projects in the history of the sport. He had guided NMP PCH HayaBusa to their four FAI world championship gold medals, and the Belgians are more than open to pick the brain of their former coach as much as his time in Texel allows him to.

The situation of the former Belgian 4-way world champions were one of the main topics when the NSL News discussed the upcoming competition with him. The current HayaBusa lineup still includes two 4-way world champions of the days with coach Gary Smith. Dennis Praet has won four world championship titles consecutively and wants to add at least another one to his collection. Only two French competitors (Eric Fradet, Philippe Schorno) matched this 4-way winning records between 1997 - 1993, while Mark Kirkby is the only 4-way competitor with five FAI world championship gold medals.

Dennis Praet's current team mate Jeroen "Bob" Nollet has won three gold medals under the guidance of coach Gary Smith, and both gladly take any of his advice as long as he is available. Even Dennis Praet and three-time world champion David Grauwels, now on HayaBusa camera since 2021, listen carefully when Gary Smith is evaluating and commenting the current HayaBusa performance. The NSL News will soon follow up with HayaBusa feedback before the competition begins.

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NSL TV Unfiltered: Training at Skydive Teuge on Wednesday, August 27, Part 2

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