Hot Air for Hope celebrates second year

Thirty balloons filled Lampe Park for the weekend for Hot Air for Hope’s second year supporting the Douglas County Center of Hope and Healing, a support center for grieving families.

Hot Air for Hope Festival was the brainchild of the center’s Executive Director Amanda Johnson.

“Hot Air for Hope is not only a beautiful festival in Carson Valley,” according to Hot Air for Hope’s social media, “we also host a competition for the balloon pilots during the weekend.”

A balloon competition is actually a navigation contest, as explained by pilot Russ James in the Wanderer during Friday’s first responder, veterans and media flights.

“It’s mostly about navigation than an actual race,” he said. “It’s a true test of how the pilots navigate the wind speeds, directions, and accuracy to reach the targets.”

James tossed his red and yellow streamers over the edge of the balloon dropping it almost dead on the target.

Too bad Friday was a practice run because he probably would have won that task.

In addition to tossing a streamer on to a target, the competition consists of duration and skill.

“You’re going where ever the wind takes them,” said James. “The speed and direction of the wind varies with altitude and time. Pilots must accurately gauge the speed and direction of the wind.”

As if to prove that, James pulled the burner control and the Wanderer increased in speed from 5 mph to 7-8 mph as it lifted in altitude and caught the wind. 

James also said a normal flight is about an hour and during that time, depending on the wind speed a balloon can travel between two and eight miles.

“That’s why you might end up farther than where you took off,” he said.

Saturday and Sunday were the real competitions. In addition to competing for prize money and awards, the Hot Air for Hope event is one of three competitions for the Nevada State Championship. The Championship is open to Nevada residents only, who are awarded on the basis of a cumulative score of Hot Air for Hope, Lovers Aloft in Lovelock, and the Great Reno Balloon Race.

This years’ winners from the Hot Air for Hope event were first place Ken Azevedo from Reno with his balloon Gooberfish, second place Gary Michalek of Lafayette, Calif., with his balloon Asses Aloft, and third place went to Cindy Heinrich of Reno with her balloon Chromatica.

Aside from the competition, visitors enjoyed a candlestick display Friday evening, where a retired balloon lay on its side and was filled up for guests to walk through. Saturday and Sunday balloons were launched at 6 a.m. then guests spend the day visiting the food and craft vendors kids played in retired balloon again and enjoyed tethered balloon rides.

“Our second year was amazing,” said Johnson. “We are so overwhelmed with the support of our community, our sponsors, and our pilots. It was a great weekend.”

Craft and nonprofit vendors consisted of Mama Artz, Nevada Cowgirl Creations, Krazy K’s Crafts, Swing 395, BP Creations, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Cultural Arts Foundation, Senior Helps and more including sponsor booths Carson Tahoe Health, Carson Valley Health, and Big Blue Spas and performers CBP Aerial Arts Camille, All About Dance, and Northwest Martial Arts.

Country Financial and Carson Valley Health sponsored the Special Shape balloons Spyder Pig and Bob the Lighthouse.