Hot Air Balloon
While Hot Air Balloon Festivals are colourful spectacles that draw thousands of spectators who marvel at the unique shapes, designs and colour palettes, the art of Balloon Flying has developed into a competitive Air Sport in its own right.
Usually using balloons designated as “Racers” pilots compete in a series of events designed to test their strategic abilities and skill levels. Competition ballooning involves flying a series of challenges, with each challenge having a maximum score of 1000 points, and while balloon design can offer some advantages, it is the aerial judgement of the pilots that determines who wins. The pilots must focus on, and react to, the winds at specific altitudes, their balloon’s flying altitude and the timing of specific challenges. However, while the pilots must use full concentration and all of their expertise, the sport is also popular with spectators on the ground.
The variety of challenges all test different skills that the pilots must demonstrate.
These include:
- – Navigation and Precision
- – Judgement and Adaptability
- – Strategic flying under constantly changing wind and weather
- – Team coordination and leadership skills
- – Maintaining motivation and focus throughout the competition.
Competition Ballooning usually takes place in the early morning or late afternoon, when winds and weather are usually more conducive to safer flying. Competitions can take place over several days depending on weather conditions but always provide an exciting visual extravaganza, and tense moments as the best balloon pilots in the world test their skills against each other.