by Tom Hamilton
Billings, Montana is a gateway
to old west. Nestled along the banks of the Yellowstone River and sandstone
Rimrock canyon walls the Montana Territory begins here. Founded in 1882
as a railroad town of the Northern Pacific Railroad it was named for the
railway company's president, Frederick Billings.
The railroad gave rise to cattle ranching. Prior to the railroad people only scurried by on the Bozeman Trail as they made their way further west to the gold and silver fields in Virginia City. This is the land where dreams were born in the expansive plains of Big Sky Country. This is where wagons still roll on authentic cattle drives, where nightly rodeo riders are cheered by hundreds of rip-roarin', would-be cowboys each night, and where Indians dance in colorful regalia on nearby reservations at annual pow-wow celebrations.
Tourists stream to area every year to take in sights like Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Mountains, and the Little Bighorn Battle Field. They come to the land of history and mystique made by legends like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Teddy Roosevelt, George Armstrong Custer, and Calamity Jane. They come for adventure.
And, this year, they came to see an old west shoot-out. Not with guns but, with balloons. The Pepsi Big Skyfest, now in its third year, hosted the North American Balloon Championship. Forty-six pilots from four countries made this year's edition a truly international event.
When I first reported on this event two years ago I wrote in part, "The site of this year's event was a new, unimproved park which required some last minute preparation. The Parks Department promised that by the next year there will be a grass field for the balloon to inflate on." Heard that one before?
Well, Billings delivered. The multi-use park not only has real grass for the balloons to inflate on, there is also a covered main stage for the entertainment.
The event kicks off with a parade through downtown the night before competition starts. The parade route is a couple of miles long and lined with families the whole way. The balloon chase vehicles only make up a small percentage of the parade units. Everything from artillery guns to horse drill teams make their way past the enthusiastic crowd.
To encourage festive vehicles, awards are given out for the best in a number of categories. Winning in the balloon division was Phil Glebe's automotive fleet, Pontiac, Good Wrench, and AC Delco. Rather than spend the time to festoon their chase trucks with ribbons, balloons, and signs the team delighted the group by using the burners on their three balloons baskets to give the spectators a taste of hot air ballooning. The judges felt that their "synchronized" burning showed the best spirit of ballooning.
Competitive flights are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning as well as Saturday and Sunday evening. Friday night is reserved for a mandatory balloon glow. If you don't glow you receive a 500 competition point penalty.
Friday morning conditions look great. A two part task, both judge declared goals, is called. Everyone leaves the tent in anticipation of a delightful flight. The balloons begin to inflate and lift off. Then the gentle winds shift to the right. The first two balloons off the field are able to make the first target area. Andy Stone takes the early lead with a drop of one inch. Right behind him at 326 feet is Robert Burroughs. Everybody else? Well, the scenery is pretty. Now, how do you get to target number two which requires a big left after target number one.
Some pilots try to get right down on top of the Yellowstone River and try to figure out how to get by the power plant and refinery. Only 12 will score on the second target. Only one inside of ten feet, five inside of 100 feet.
The Canadians command the top five places.
As often happens in this part of the world, afternoon thunderstorms move in and eventually cancel the night glow. Unfortunately they are still around the next morning and evening. Two competitive flights are lost and Andy Stone, the current leader can be seen taking some rain dance lessons.
Or maybe he was just trying to evade the super-soakers that his crew were testing out. One thing about weather holds, crews can become inventive. One crew, after examining a store bought water cannon decided they could do better. A trip to the local hardware store for PVC pipe and they were in business with serious water cannons. 50-60 foot standoff range and more than a gallon of water capacity. The crew took orders for delivery on Sunday after showing off some real fire power.
Sunday morning the weather finally settled down. A three part task is called by event director Rob Schantz. A double Hare and Hound with a judge declared goal sandwiched in-between. With slow winds the pilots make their assault on the first two targets. While the center of the targets are not being peppered with baggies most pilots are scoring. The third target is set down by the hare above and well beyond the Rimrock canyon wall of the Yellowstone. At more than 500 feet above the level of the first two targets and rolling terrain, navigation is more difficult.
In fact, just trying to reach the area of the hare proves a challenge. The hare did not have to navigate to reach the judge declared goal. Most balloons find themselves well north of a line needed to score. Climbing three thousand feet pilots find a box wind to take them back and reposition to make a run at the last target. While winds in town were a few miles per hour, balloons are cooking at 15 plus miles per hour on top of the plateau. The distances scored are not as impressive yet, 37 pilots achieve a result.
The Canadians are still in control, holding four of the top five spots. Del Michaud has moved into the lead and Bill Arras, at number four, breaks into the top five for the Americans.
Without a single evening competitive flight ever having been flown in the Pepsi Big Skyfest you would think that the championship is over. But, Sunday night proved to have near perfect conditions. Although the temperature was still a little warm a multi-part task was in the cards.
Schantz called a three part task. Two multi-judge declared goals and a Hare and Hound. Steerage? There was lots of it. Sharp left, toward the south, on the deck and a hard right, toward the north, at 4,000 feet above the ground. With the two primary judge declared goals on the same east-west line and only a short distance apart, it took some real maneuvering to score. Forgot getting close on both targets. Pilots who did well on one did poorly on the other.
The hare flew well out of town giving everyone plenty of time to set up an approach and score well on the last task.
At the awards ceremony the Canadians
cleaned up. Del Michaud was the overall winner. Bill Arras in second place
was the only American in the top five. Stan Wereschuk, David Gleed, and
Andy Stone rounded out the top five.
The Billings Parks Department and the major sponsor, local Pepsi bottler, have combined to make this a well run event in the North Central region. You can be sure the Americans will be back next year to revenge the massacre of '97.
