2019 Canowindra Challenge Invitation
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An Invitation to attend the 2019 CANOWINDRA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON CHALLENGE 19th – 28th April 2019 www.canowindrachallenge.org.au Canowindra Challenge Inc. 752 Longs Corner Rd Canowindra NSW 2804 ABN: 97 936 392 710 Monday, January 7, 2019 Invitation to 2019 Canowindra International Balloon Challenge On behalf of the Board of Canowindra Challenge Inc. I am delighted to invite you to the 2019 Canowindra International Balloon Challenge. Building on the great success of last year’s event, we are expecting yet another amazing year in one of Australia’s best flying locations. We continue to make changes to the event which we believe will set this event up for the future and allow it to continue to provide an avenue into competition ballooning for Australian pilots. Regional events are of critical importance to local communities and the Canowindra Challenge is no exception. This is the showpiece event in the local region and injects energy, tourism and of course, money into the economy throughout the region. It also one of the primary ballooning events in Australia and promotes the sport throughout NSW, and Australia. Our drive for excellence has once again seen the event recognized with a Bronze award in the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards to join our growing list of awards below: NSW Tourism Awards – Bronze 2018 and 2017, Silver 2014 and 2013 Inland Tourism Awards - Gold 2014 Regional Tourism Awards - Bronze 2016, 2018 In 2019 the event will take full advantage of the Easter weekend as the start of the event and will have several fun events for competitors and their teams. One of the highlights will be the key grab on the morning of Easter Sunday. This year’s prize is truly amazing, and we will wait until a little closer to the event for the grand reveal, but you can’t miss this flight! We look forward to you joining us to “Share our Air” for the 2019 event where you will be met with a great event, a friendly community, and spectacular competition. Yours Sincerely Graham Kerr Chairman Canowindra Challenge Inc. ABOUT CANOWINDRA Canowindra is a small country town in the central West of NSW with a population of 2000 people. It’s a truly charming Australian country town. The town features a heritage-listed main street and a collection of art galleries showing works by local artists, potters and artisans. Canowindra became world-famous when a 360-million-year-old fossil was found. Today, you can see it among other fascinating exhibits at the amazing Age of Fishes Museum where the NSW State fossil emblem is housed. During the Canowindra Balloon Challenge the town swells as over 10,000 visitors come to see the balloons. The wide-open spaces, stable weather conditions, and friendly local people make this an ideal area for hot air ballooning. Canowindra is approximately 320km west of Sydney in New South Wales; the drive by car takes around 4.5 hours from Sydney Airport, depending on traffic and road conditions or 2 hours’ drive from Canberra. The town has some lovely restaurants, cafes and pubs. There are two supermarkets in town for all your basic needs. THE EVENT FORMAT This year’s event will be the same format as last year. Competition Flights which will contribute to the overall winner of the event will only be held in the mornings and just one afternoon, unless weather dictates the need for further afternoon competition flights. Afternoon social competition flights will be fun with great prizes and open to all registered pilots. The competition will not have observers and we will use the FAI loggers for scoring on all flights. Our aim is to get you throwing as many markers as we can and only use the loggers if it is absolutely necessary. We believe throwing markers is more enjoyable for you, your teams and also the general public. As per previous years the event will be operating under a Permit from the CASA and the rules will be based on the current AXMER. COMPETITION & OFFICIALS TEAM Position Name Director Paul Petrehn (USA) Deputy Director Adam Barrow (VIC) Chief Scorer Erica Hahn (USA) Meteorologist Don Whitford (VIC) Windsond Randy and Karen Christophers (NSW) Target Team Managers Ian and Carol Benning (VIC) Andrew Phelan (NSW) EVENT ORGANISING TEAM: Position Name Event Manager Joel Ulbricht Chairman Graham Kerr Vice Chairman Colin Pryor Secretary/Media & Marketing Jan Kerr Balloon Operations Adam Barrow Landowner Relations Matt Rice and Anton Kerr Volunteer Co-Ordinator Michelle Bolding QUALIFICATION The 2019 Canowindra International Challenge is open to Australian and International pilots with more than 30 hours PIC. This applies to both Competition and Fiesta pilots. EVENT ENTRY Once again, this year we are using Eventbrite for secure on-line registration. To enter click on the link below: Pilot Registration If your insurance is not renewed until after 31st March 2019 please put in your old/current policy info and we will check your currency documents when you check in. You will need to bring the following documents with you and have them available at pilot check in: All Pilots • Proof of current ABF membership or temporary membership of ABF for overseas pilots • Pilot License • Pilot Log Book showing total hours as PIC and currency requirements have been met • Balloon Log Book showing valid annual inspection • Certificate of Airworthiness • Certificate of Registration • Certificate of Insurance: Minimum of $2 million AUD with the pilot named Extra information for International Pilots • If you are flying an Australian aircraft you will need a temporary Australian balloon license. We can help you to obtain this for the event. Please let us know in advance. • If you are flying an Australian balloon you must ensure the Australian owners add your name on the insurance policy. If you are not named, you will not be able to fly. • If you are bringing your own balloon you will need to ensure that you have at least $2 million insurance cover. We may be able to put you in touch with an Australian insurer, but this will need to occur before the event. • If you are bringing your own balloon you will need to ensure your aircraft is approved for use in Australia by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. ENTRY FEE The entry fee for competition pilots is: $300 ex GST The entry fee for fiesta pilots is: $150 ex GST Payments Payment is by credit card on the online booking system. Refunds Registration fees can only be refunded if you withdraw from the event prior to 30th March 2019. There will be a $50 administration fee deducted from the refund. COMPETITORS WILL RECEIVE o A competition directed by an international Director. th o Free propane from Saturday 19 April (AM) until Sunday 28th April 2019 (AM) o Automatic entry in afternoon fiesta flights for daily prizes o Event “Balloonist” long sleeve cotton Polo shirts 4 per team. o An opportunity to compete for a prize pool valued at over $10,000 o An opportunity to compete in the Key Grab. o Maps both paper and electronic o The use of a FAI logger to record your flight details. th o Welcome BBQ after Master Briefing on Saturday 20 April. o Post Balloon Glow meal (for 4 people per balloon) FIESTA PILOTS WIL RECEIVE o Free propane from Saturday 19th April (AM) until Sunday 28th April 2019 (AM) o The opportunity to participate in afternoon prize flights plus morning fiesta flights. o An opportunity to compete in the Key Grab. o Event “Balloonist” long sleeve cotton Polo shirts 4 per team. o Maps both paper and electronic o Welcome BBQ after Master Briefing on Saturday 20th April. o Post Glow meal (for 4 people per balloon) As a condition of entry, all balloons are required to participate in Night Glow if requested by the Night Glow organising team. Fiesta pilots must attend all daily briefings and, in the mornings, Fiesta balloons will launch separately or 15 minutes behind competition balloons and must avoid flying into the competition fleet at all times. IMPORTANT DATES o January 7th 2019 - Pilot registrations open o Saturday 30 March - Registrations close o Friday 19 April - 5.30am Practice flight o Saturday 20 April - 5.30am Practice flight o Saturday 20 April - Midday to 3.00pm Pilot Check in - 4pm Master briefing o Sunday 21April - 5.30am Key Grab o Sunday 21April - 3:30 pm First competition flight briefing o Monday 22 April - Friday 26 April – 5.30am Competition briefing and flight o Monday 22 April - Friday 26 April – 3.30pm - Social competition flight o Saturday 27 April - 5:30am Last Briefing and comp flight o Saturday 27 April - 5:30pm Assemble for Pilots Parade & 7.00pm Balloon Glow o Saturday 27 April - 8.00pm to 9.00pm Post Glow pilots, crew and volunteers meal o Sunday 28th April - Fly your crew morning PRIZE DETAILS ($AUD) There is over $10,000 worth of prizes to be won!!!! Prize money for the 2019 Canowindra International Balloon Challenge competition is below: Position Prize Money First Place $3,000.00 Second Place $2,000.00 Third Place $1,000.00 Flight Prize Sat 20 Flight Equipment Sun 21 Social Prize (Fiesta Only) Mon 22 Social Prize Tuesday 23 Social Prize Wednesday 24 Flight Equipment Thursday 25 Social Prize Friday 26 Flight Equipment KEY GRAB The key grab prize will be an exciting Prize with the details to be announced closer to the day. There is also a consolation prize for the closest marker drop if the key doesn’t go off. Note: All prize monies will be paid by a cheque in Australian dollars or by direct deposit into a nominated bank account, unless other prior arrangements have been made with the organizers.