Air traffic above Drenthe was busier than usual this weekend. A merit of balloonists who competed for the National Championship. The title fight took place in the Witteveen area.
That led to colorful scenes in the airspace in Drenthe. Although it is guessing what exactly happens at the top. Organizer Bert Stuiver comes from the balloon flight circuit and can explain the perfectly. “It’s all about precision,” he says. “In principle, you can’t steer with a balloon, there is no steering wheel on it. You go with the wind.”
The trick is to have the balloon with the right windstream. This can vary at height. “Those who get closest to a certain point get the most points. The participant with the most points ultimately wins the rankings.”
For the fanatic followers of Ballonvaart, it is no surprise that Roy Gommer to the national title Voer. He won the NK before and was successful at the World Cup. Stuiver does not need many words to explain the class of this champion. “Roy is very good.”
In addition to Dutch people, the field of participants also consisted of Belgians, English, French and Hungarians. One large classification was drawn up from this. The best Dutchman became Dutch champion, the highest ranked Belgian can call himself Belgian champion. At our southern neighbors, David Spilendoen collected the most points. He finished one place higher in the general ranking than Gommer and was therefore the largest winner.
The NK balloon fern was also organized in Drenthe two years ago. Due to the good circumstances, this is probably not the last time. Stuiver is enthusiastic about the environment and the landscape. “And in terms of rules there is complete freedom in the air. We also have good contact with farmers if we can place a ‘goal’ in the pasture. If it all stays that way, we will try to organize it again in Witteveen in two years.”