lundi 15 septembre 2014

Round Two Brings Together Twenty-Two - Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival


After last year’s successful first event in a long time in High River, Alberta, a number of balloonists will once again descend on the Southern Alberta town for a fun and competitive event in late September.  This time, there are 22 balloons registered (with the possibility of a 23rd) for the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival - a huge increase over last year.  With balloonists coming from Belgium, Alaska, Colorado, Ontario and across the West, this event is gathering momentum and this year is hosting the Western Canadian Championships (to compete, pilots must be members of the Alberta Free Balloon Society).
It is growing on the strength of a few good reasons: the town welcomed balloonists with opened arms last year even though it was in the early stages of recovering from a devastating flood, the event was well organized and timely (pilots can head to Albuquerque right afterwards – even though it’s 26 hours away, most crops have been cut and the potential for wild thunderstorms and hail in the evening is diminished permitting evening flights), and it is put on by a sharp and experienced team who are dedicated to building an excellent event…hopefully for the long term.

It is so exciting that Jason Adams and three other Ontarians are bringing their equipment across the country to be involved in addition to a few international pilots.  Adams will want retribution after not being able to get off the ground in last year’s last flight.  Still, he had qualified for the World Championships and in Brazil improved greatly over the 2012 result in Battle Creek.  Last year’s winner and Canadian champion, David Gleed, won’t be participating in High River this year meaning that whoever wins will be a new winner at this event.
There are a number of good candidates for that crown, including Adams, but also including pilots from across the West.  Young stars Cliff Skocdopole and Brant Leatherdale proved they were in it to win it last year while the familiar cast of previous Canadian champions including Dale Ritchie, Del Michaud, Dale Lang, Marvin Schultz, Glenn Penner and Bill Whelan can all find glory on September 28 if things go their way.  In fact, with local conditions playing such a huge factor, everyone has a shot at winning it all if they can figure out the mystery weather and understand the loggers.

Last year, one flight had winds heading from the Northeast to the Southwest, directly towards the High River Airport.  At flight time, winds could be found to go in any direction, except the Southwest, with Marvin Schultz winning one of the tasks simply by landing back where he took off.  Another flight saw winds increase from almost nil to over 30 kts meaning that only three balloons flew in the competition, yet the fiesta pilots enjoyed a safe, normal flight.
With the Rocky Mountains in the background, this year’s Western Canadians at the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival should be another great showcase for ballooning for fans of intense competition and pretty shapes and colours* in the sky.

*Note – colours takes a “u”, I swear!

jeudi 1 mai 2014

5 Year Anniversary of Leaving Iceland


These posts were initially just about the anniversary of leaving Iceland at this time of the year in 2009, but since then additional anniversaries have added themselves: I’ve now been with Catie for three years and in Alberta for one.  Each of these changes has brought all sorts of great opportunities and a tinge of sadness (not being with Catie of course).

Last year’s post ended with a mention of my friendship with Joel that was reconfirmed with his visit this February capped by watching the gold medal game at 5 am.  But we’ve made new friends too and part of my goal was, even though I didn’t know how long I would be in Alberta, to get as engaged as possible in the community.
I joined the Rotary Club of Calgary Crowchild and immediately became the Secretary.  I volunteered to be the Public Relations Director for the Calgary Canucks Jr. A Team moving me from the broadcast booth to the bus where I travel Alberta with the team to share the news.  I joined the Calgary Balloon Club after the Rimbey event, enjoyed helping at the Canadian balloon championships in High River and drove to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning with Marvin and the gang.  Upon my return, I was acclaimed President-Elect of the Club and will take up my post with honour this fall.

Of course, I’ve also worked most of the time.  From a strategic review of the ACFA (Francophone Association) of Calgary’s activities, I’ve moved on to tackle the biggest issue that was identified: getting health access for Francophones.  And while I have no medical experience, I think I’ve pushed things in the right direction and have brought us closer to our goal.
We went home twice during the year: to Memère and Pepère’s 60th anniversary party shortly after the major floods only a few blocks from our Calgary apartment and at Christmas time.  Those were oddly peaceful trips and reminded us of what we miss most from home: our friends and family.  While some have made the trip out here (Emelie arrived today on her second trip), we will be too far from them until we eventually return.

But before then, there is so much to enjoy in Alberta.  A few weeks ago, we moved into the house we bought in the North end of the city: a bungalow that will give us the chance to grow.  The same day we moved in, I proposed to Catie and she said yes meaning we will be married in the fall of 2015. Golf season and the Okotoks Dawgs baseball team will be starting just as soon as the winter ends (more snow in the forecast).
I don’t know if I would have recognized myself describing my life like this 5 years ago.  To be fair, I’m not sure I fully recognize myself as the person I was 5 years ago.  But if there is one thing to take from re-reading these annual posts, it’s that I haven’t wasted too much time reflecting on what could be or should be, but passing directly to action.  Here’s to another year, more adventures, but with memories of Iceland still in my heart.