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Why do people go ballooning? Ask a balloonist, and what kind of answer do you expect? Because I love to get up at four o’clock in the morning? Or - because I like to retrieve my balloon from the middle of nowhere? Or - because I just do it?
If one asks me, I would say that one of the best things about it all is possibility to discover new places, to explore countries different from your own homeland. Here is one more country to discover ... Latvia, Baltic Cup Hot Air Balloon Competition.
This year, the competition was run for the third time. The first Baltic Cup took place back in 1996. In 1997, the event was run under the FAI Ballooning Commission’s sanction and became the first CIA sanctioned event in the whole territory of Eastern Europe, which used to be hidden behind the ‘iron curtain’. Baltic Cup’97 was later referred to by the CIA as ‘highly successful’. The same standard was kept for the 1998 event, which took place between 11 and 17 May in Sigulda, a well known holiday resort and popular sightseeing destination in Latvia. 
This year, 16 balloons participated. Participants of the event - including officials and observers - represented 14 nationalities. 5 flights and a total of 9 tasks were completed, set by the Event Director Neil A. Robertson. Although the first three flights could not happen due to adverse weather conditions, the weather gradually improved in the course of the event. Needless to say, everyone was well prepared and longing for the first flight when it finally could happen! However, for most of flights the start of launch period was delayed due to strong winds. Therefore, only once it was possible to set a triple task.
The competition was won by Csaba Molnar, of Hungary - his total score appeared to be 7973 points. Csaba won 4 tasks in a row and went back to Hungary as the proud owner of the perpetual trophy of the event - the Baltic Cup and the CIA Gold Medal. Silver went to Jerzy Czerniawski, of Poland with total score of 6090 points, and bronze - to Jolanta Matejczuk, of Poland, the only female competition pilot, who scored 5430 points. 
Apart from competition flights, a number of fiesta flights took place. As fiesta pilots decided to support the idea to fly some simple one-per-flight tasks, this opportunity was used to improve skills of the new Latvian observers who - under guidance of the Fiesta Director Risto Jalava - worked as fiesta support personnel. We hope that they will soon join the corps of those Latvian observers who have already earned good reputation in international events. It is worth mentioning that the very first group of Latvian observers was trained back in 1996, to serve the Baltic Cup’96 Hot Air Balloon Competition.
The event is traditionally favoured by spectators. This year, we had three special shapes for them to enjoy, including the world’s very first special shape - GOLLY, the black headed 22 years old doll, owned by Neil Robertson. The picturesque landscape of Sigulda served as a perfect background for the colourful balloons, ascending high in the sky, or playing with waters of the winding Gauja River deep into the valley. The sky seemed to be dotted with giant flowers - a sight which is equally favoured both by balloonists and spectators. There was much to see and do for the latter, even except watching the balloons: games, contests, prizes, Latvian gourmet treats (including delicious Latvian beer), music, dancing under the stars, arts and crafts, exhibits and lots of other surprises on the ground, in the air and on the water. As always, a special moment was the Saturday’s evening Key Grab flight which attracted undivided attention of everyone present at the main launch field. 
Between the flights, one can see balloonists all over the place, indulging in the many activities around. We do hope that the event was an enjoyable experience for everyone who participated, and that our guests have discovered for themselves a new country on the world’s map of ballooning: Latvia.
So, why don’t YOU discover it next year? |
| OTHER ARTICLES OF ASI JUNE'98 ISSUE | News In Brief | Letters To The Editor | World Records | | 1998 Free Flight World Cup | | Flying With The Birds | | Baltic Cup 1998 | | Some Rare Kind Of Guts | | Did He Actually Fly Before The Wright Brothers ? |  More articles on Ballooning
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