From May 6th to 13th, the skies above Northam will be bathed in dazzling blues, reds, yellows, greens, and oranges when the National Ballooning Championships return.
The week-long event will see pilots come from all over Australia to compete and secure a place in the World Championships.
“This will be the first National Championships in four years,” Operations Manager Greg Putland said.
“Northam proudly hosted the Championships in 2017, 2015, 1981, and 1984 and the 2021 Championships were postponed due to COVID restrictions. The 2019 Championships were held in Mudgee, NSW.”
The home of hot air ballooning in the state, Northam provides a mix of the perfect flying conditions and with the rolling hills of the Avon Valley, a picturesque location to fly over.
The Championships
The championships begin with two days of practice flights before the competition starts on May 8th. Pilots will test their skills at varying winds and altitudes, competing twice a day at dawn (6:45 am) and late afternoon (between 4:00 – 5:00 pm). Competitors will exercise their skill in manoeuvring their balloons over a set course with goals, scoring areas, targets, time, and distance limits.
The event is free to attend, and with a course spanning 30 kilometres by 40 kilometres, there will be plenty of vantage points for visitors to see the balloons gliding over the rolling hills of the Avon Valley.
Current National Champion and Australian Balloon manufacturer Sean Kavanagh will be looking to defend his title.
“It is exciting to get back to Northam and finally have a chance to defend my title. It will be interesting to see how the different time of year changes the flying area and it may be a bit of a test for those of us who are used to flying here later in the year,” Kavanagh commented.
“Northam has a great mix of flying conditions that challenge pilots. The surrounding farmland is a joy to fly over and the people of Northam always support the event and teams when it comes time to land.”
Elevate Festival
Preluding the championships will be the Elevate Festival on May 6th. Around 15 balloons will be tethered to the ground and inflated at sunset. The burners will be ignited periodically to keep the balloons inflated, creating a spectacular glowing display.
Understand the history of hot balloons with a History of Ballooning display and learn Aboriginal cultural stories of the night sky at the star gazing event. Complimenting these will be entertainment, food trucks, and markets.
Feature image: supplied
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