23rd National Ballooning Championships Northam
23rd National Ballooning Championships hosted in Northam
May 6th – 13th 2023, Northam was host to a vibrant week of hot air ballooning, marking the first National Championships in four years.
Over 20 globally recognised Australian pilots fought for their chance to represent their country at the World Championships.
The event drew a crowd as spectators were treated to a stunning display in the sky. We had a week of watching the balloons from all over town and on Friday afternoon we ventured out to the launch point just outside Northam to watch the action.
Video on YouTube – 23rd national Ballooning Championships | Northam Western Australia
The Championships
During competition flights (tasks), pilots must demonstrate their skill in maneuvering their balloons through a pre-determined course, complete with goals, targets, scoring areas, time and distance limits.
To succeed, pilots must effectively leverage wind variations at different altitudes to propel their balloons toward the goal and make accurate approaches to the target.
Although balloons don’t land directly on the target, crew members drop small markers, usually small sandbags with streamers, as close to the target as possible.
It’s important not to tamper with these markers, as doing so could negatively impact the pilots’ scores and competition results.
5th FAI Women’s World Hot Air Ballooning Championships
We are looking forward to the Women’s event held in Northam in September 2023.
Practice Flights: Sat/Sun 2nd/3rd Sept, 2023
Competition Flights: Mon 4th Sept – Sat 9th Sept, 2023
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To find out more visit https://northamballooningevents.com/
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Author - Jodie Lowen
Jodie Lowen is the owner of Wheatbelt Kids and a mother of two. She lives in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and has worked in education for many years. Jodie is passionate about social media marketing and using online platforms to build community connections.
