Carolina BalloonFest
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Balloon Competition
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Competition information on this page provided by Carolinas Balloon Association.
The Balloonist's Prayer
May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.
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Competitions are held on Saturday and Sunday mornings between the window of 8-9:30 a.m. 
Competition directors have developed extremely complicated tasks for pilots to accomplish, and many pilots lose points for rules violations even though they flew quite well. Here is a sampling of some of the tasks competitors may be assigned to fly. The first four are fairly simple competitions that are very popular at festivals that offer light competition. The others will give you an idea of the complexity of tasks that occur during heavy competition like world or national championships.

Hare and Hound

All the balloons launch from the same site, usually a festival. One balloon takes off first and is the hare balloon. The other balloons are called the hounds, and they will launch a predetermined time after the hare. The hare lands at a suitable site and lays out a large fabric X, usually about 50 feet in diameter. The hound balloons attempt to drop their markers as close to the center of the X as possible. The closest marker achieves the highest score.

Watership Down

This is a two-part task that combines a CNT with a Hare and Hound. Competitors take off outside of a predetermined radius of the first target (usually at the festival site) and drop their first marker. The hare balloon launches from the first X and the hound balloons continue on to drop their second marker at the X set down by the hare. 

Fly-In

Competitors find their own launch areas and attempt to drop a marker close to a set goal or target. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
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Pilot-Declared Goal (PDG)

Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to a goal selected and declared by him before flight. The result is the distance from the mark to nearest valid declared goal. Smallest result is best.

Judge-Declared Goal (JDG)

Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to a set goal. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.

​Hesitation Waltz (HWZ)

Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to one of several set goals. The result is the distance from the mark to the nearest target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.

Gordon Bennett Memorial 

Competitors attempt to drop a marker within a scoring area(s) close to a set goal. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
2022 competition participants will be listed soon!

2019 Sport Balloons


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Dilligaf
Sean Askren
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Tumbleweed
Jeff Barlett
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Moonshine
Meredith Bennett
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"Orange Crush"
DAVID BRISTOL

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DayBreak II
Don Cline
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RE/MAX
PETER COLWELL
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Breaking Wind
Paul Dale
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Heartburn
Drew Egerton

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Atlantis
Mike Goodman
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Elsa
Clarke Harbold
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SUNCATCHER
JOSEPH HURDT
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ALMOST HEAVEN TOO
david litton

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Time Flies
Al Nels
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Awesome Name
Al Nels
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INCOGNITO
VINNY PANICO
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Racing Venture
Richard Parr

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Dense Fog
Charles Schobel
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Touchstone Energy
Bob schobee
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Lucky Strike
dj stukas
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Spirit of the Lord
Tom Tomasetti

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Helena Sunset
helene viens
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Christel Delight
Bubba Winston
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Wells Fargo II
beth wright-smith
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Rain or Shine... Carolina BalloonFest is open October 14-16, 2022!  
Hot Air Balloon Flights are scheduled twice daily; early morning & late afternoon. All ballooning activities ( including static display, tethered rides and balloon flights) and skydiving exhibition are weather-dependent.  The decision to inflate hot air balloons is made just prior to the scheduled ballooning activity.  Please note that due to the popularity of our festival, our admissions booths will close when we reach maximum capacity. This is a decision out of our control and made by local law enforcement.  Tickets are non-refundable. National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit that donates a portion of our festival proceeds to other local nonprofits and surrounding community agencies. 
#carolinaballoonfest
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©2022 National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. is an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all contributions are tax deductible. A portion of proceeds raised through Carolina BalloonFest are distributed to local nonprofit organizations. ​PO Box 267 ~ Statesville NC 28687
Festival Location is near Statesville Regional Airport at 260 Hangar Drive, Statesville, NC 28677. ​Pre-purchased parking will be available on site and free parking will be available at Troutman park and ride. NO ROADSIDE PARKING - vehicles will be towed where NO PARKING signs are posted. Walk in spectators will not be admitted. Ticket scanning will be in progress.

©2022 National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc.       Site Designed and Lovingly Cared for by Haley Jones 
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