Page 19 - WATCH IT! - FW MAGAZINE 2018

Tell us a bit about your balloon What can you tell us about the community
All balloons have names; mine are named Mariah surrounding hot air ballooning.
and Skittles. The two of them are different sizes, You can’t fly a balloon without crew, and it’s
which makes them useful for different types of always more fun to fly with other balloons.
flying. The ballooning community is very close and
supportive, and we’re always ready to have a
How often do you fly? Is it mainly a summer good time! I’m lucky to have made some great
activity or do you fly year-round? friends through the sport. Even though we all
I try to fly a couple times a month. We fly year- come from very different backgrounds, our
round, and there are pros and cons to flying in common love of ballooning brings us together.
all seasons! Flying is weather dependent, so we Our local club has several weekend meet-ups
can’t fly in high winds or precipitation, but there every year, which are always a lot of fun.
are lots of beautiful days we can get in the air!
What is the next journey for you?
Tell us about the traditions involved with hot air More flying! I’m planning to compete in the
ballooning. Canadian Championship in 2019, which will be
The tradition of having champagne after a flight my first “real” competition. I’m also hoping to
dates back to the first balloon flight ever, and attend some events in Western Canada and the
has continued right up to today. It’s now a great U.S. soon.
opportunity to celebrate another great flight
with your crew and passengers and share stories
about the flight.

RUBAIYAT
COLLECTION

96P196 $525
-17-