What is competition flying?

Balloons travel at the same speed as the air mass, thus all competitors travel at approximately the same speed. Although you can't steer balloons in the conventional manner you can direct them by using changing wind directions at different altitudes. Wind direction is not exactly the same as you go up, sometimes there can be minor deviations in direction, at other times there is considerable "steerage" available for the pilot to use. Prior to flight, pilots can ascertain this direction by releasing a small helium filled balloon. In competitions a theodolite hooked to a computer may be used to track the small balloon.

Top level pilots are amazingly accurate, and it is not uncommon to have several pilots track as close as a couple of metres off the centre of a target from distances as far as 10 km away. The target itself is usually identified by a large cross with 10 metre arms. Weighted streamers (markers) are thrown at the target from any height and the closest marker to the target wins that task. One flight can have up to 4 tasks.

What competitions are there?

There are different levels of competition to suit ability. Regional clubs such as BAV, have their own club championship. This is the entry level to competition. From there the next step is the National Championships normally held every two years. This is where the cream of Australia's pilots compete for the right to represent Australia at the World Championships.

The World Championships are the blue ribbon ballooning event, and are held every two years in different locations around the world. In 2004 Australia hosted the World Championships in Mildura, the first time the event had ever been held in the Southern Hemisphere.