"Key Grab" and last training drive - From tomorrow it's serious!
After yesterday's break determined by the bad weather, today is dedicated to the official opening of the Hot Air Balloon World Championship. Before the General Briefing at 10:30 am, we will use the morning for a "dry practice" with the different ground teams to standardize the ground wind measurements and exchange experiences. At noon, there will be a joint lunch of all teams, followed by the festivities for the official opening. So far, we can only praise the local organization as well as the supporting program. The still wet and rather cold weather unfortunately makes the whole outdoor event a bit uncomfortable. From 18:00 o'clock one may start then to the "key grave". The goal is to ride the balloon as close as possible to a pole attached to a raft and "pick" the wreath at the top. The winner will receive a small motorboat as a prize. We decide to use this opportunity for an additional short training ride, since we are no longer in "competition mode" due to the longer weather-related break of the last two days. We start first and get right over the bar, but too high to clear it. We set another target and then use a clean and reasonably dry meadow for landing.
Tomorrow morning at 05:15 the first task briefing starts. The weather should be ok and hopefully nothing stands in the way of a first race. We hope the grounds are not too wet and there is no "mud fight". We are very happy that it finally starts and will keep you up to date here.
4th training drive
On Wednesday evening, it is still unclear whether a practice run can take place on Thursday morning. Strong winds and occasional rain are forecast. Nevertheless, we get up at 5 a.m. and find that it has stopped raining and also that the wind is calm along the ground. Thus, despite a poor outlook, we still make it to the 4th training run. The training group of the Swiss has increased again. Today also the team around Nicole Vogel is with us. We start again with a fly-in on the official CLP at the airfield near Murska Sobota. Already a few meters above the ground the balloons go along with the fast wind. Stefan is heading for the first target at 700 m above ground with a top speed of 62 km/h. To catch the target he has to go that high, because below the direction is not right. On the target then have to descend very quickly from this height to just catch it. Somewhat happily we reach the target cross so yet quite well. Since the wind is very fast and in addition the air is extremely damp and warm, something could form at any time weather-wise. Therefore, we land again after a good half hour. Nevertheless, this training has also brought its insights and can be classified as successful. Currently, it does not look like there will be many more opportunities for further training.
Directly after the ride we could already do the check-in for the competition. Our bus is still showing error messages and so a visit to the car garage is also on the agenda...
3rd training drive
Three Swiss teams are already meeting for Wednesday morning's training drive. The team of Cédric Gauch is now also ready for training. Together the three Swiss balloons start and head for common as well as individual targets. From the international competition we count about 25 balloons, which also use the morning for a training flight. From the point of view of the procedures and the distribution of tasks, everything works smoothly for us now, and even the distances achieved to the targets are satisfactory so far. Tonight there will certainly be no ride. Tomorrow morning we will get up in time and spontaneously decide whether a training is useful or not due to the weather situation.
2nd training drive
Actually, we mainly wanted to take advantage of the training opportunities in the mornings and thus do other things this evening. But since now the weekend weather-wise no longer looks very good and Roman Hugiheute has also arrived earlier than planned and wants to use every remaining opportunity for training, we decide to a joint training. After extensive tests with the wind probe, it and especially the people responsible for it are now also ready for use. The training run is again successful and last ambiguities can be clarified.
Tomorrow morning we would like to take off again a comprehensive training. At most, there is then on Friday once again a chance, but this is still very uncertain depending on the weather model.
1st practice run
For important events like just a world championship, we travel in each case a few days before the start of the competition. This has the advantage that on the one hand you can set up, organize and orient yourself well and on the other hand you can also hold important training rides. These training rides ensure that by the start of the event we really have all the equipment installed in the way we will need it at the competition. It also helps the team to consolidate the procedures or, where necessary, to adapt them. Stefan it also helps to recognize typical local wind situations and get to know the area.
So we do it also at this championship and travel already on September 12 to Slovenia. Then on Tuesday morning we already do the first training ride. It is obviously already some teams, especially from overseas such as Australia and Japan, arrived and use the perfect morning also for a training ride.
In addition to the already mentioned benefits of a training ride, Stefan throws this morning many markers from different heights to get this again well under control. In general, it was very controllable this morning and we were able to solve all the tasks we set ourselves very well. If it should also be so well controllable at the competition, there will be many tasks where a few centimeters decide on a good or bad result.
After the training drive we go back to our accommodation. We have rented a cottage, in which we are well furnished and also cater for the majority ourselves. In the evening we will leave the balloon in the hanger and deal more deeply with the wind probes as well as further aids. Due to the weather, there will probably not be too many training flights. However, we can already say that we are ready for the championship and hope for good success.
Our team at the 2022 World Cup
From September 16 to 23, the 23rd Hot Air Balloon World Championships will take place in Murska Sobota in Slovenia. We, the Balloon Team Zeberli, participate already for the 7th time in world championships. This year we are allowed to compete as vice world champion and number 1 of the world ranking list. Therefore our ambitions and our goal are clear, we want to bring the title to Switzerland for the first time ever. However, this will be anything but easy. The competition is very big. There are 105 teams from a total of 32 nations entered. Among them are also the top pilots and world champions of the past years. The special thing about international championships is that the balloon teams within a nation work together and discuss their tactics as well as share important information and new findings during the flight. Within the Swiss teams, this practice works very well. Through this procedure, where all can benefit from each other and thus achieve better results, we are as a nation in the so-called nation ranking always at the forefront.
Our team is composed as follows:
Stefan as pilot has the overall responsibility. In addition to his flair and skill in the balloon, he must make the decision before the start, where he wants to start, make tactical considerations as well as, where necessary, give instructions to the ground crews. He is supported by his brother Simon. Simon is the link between Stefan, the ground teams and other balloons via radio and other communication channels. Furthermore, he looks that the technology in the basket works and supports Stefan in solving the various tasks.
Lea and Björn in the chase vehicle with trailer are always on site during takeoff and landing and ensure a fast and smooth process when setting up and dismantling the balloon. During the trip they make wind measurements from the ground at the set targets. Stefan in the balloon depends on this info to make the right decisions.
Seraina, Köbi and Urs are on the road in a second smaller PW. Their task is, depending on the task and agreement, to be far ahead of the balloons at the targeted targets to measure the winds on the ground and the layers close to the ground and pass them on to the pilot. Likewise, they observe the other balloons and thereby try to collect more useful info and pass on appropriate tips.
In addition, all Swiss teams are supported by Kurt and Petra. These two let wind probes rise after arrangement, which can make wind measurements up to large height. This information is usually relevant before the start, because on the basis of these probe measurements it can be that the tactical procedure is adapted again or planned only on the basis of the measurement.
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