PRESS KIT 27 January - 04 February 2018 2 SUMMARY 3 The poster of the 40th 4 Welcome message 5 Some figures 6 Useful information 7 Program of the Festival 12 Scheduled competitions 15 Pilots and balloons 2018 25 40 years in brief 32 Sponsors and partners 34 Map 35 Access and contact PRÉSENTE LE 40E FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE BALLONS AGENCENEUE.COM 27 JANVIER - 04 FÉVRIER 2018 CHÂTEAU-D’OEX WWW.FESTIVALDEBALLONS.CH Avec le soutien des Communes de Château-d’Œx, Rossinière, Rougemont, Saanen et de Pays-d’Enhaut Tourisme 4 WELCOME MESSAGE MOMENTS OF SHARING The International Hot-air Balloon Festival has, over course of the last 40 years, become a top event for the whole region and even well beyond. You could of course count the number of flights, passengers and spectators during those 40 years, but it would be impossible to count the contacts that have been made during its history. They have shaped this event and to some extent the destiny of the region. Take, for example, when Hans Büker met Charles-André Ramseier, then head of the Tourist Office, back in 1978. The story that developed from that meeting is retold each January. The organising committee has decided to share this year, the 40th edition, with another major event, the 2019 Winegrowers Festival. The winegrowers will be bringing their own balloons and will be our guests of honour throughout the festival. The David Niven Cup will run from Monday to Thursday, paying homage to the man who christened International Hot-air Balloon Week and rewarding those who fly furthest in this challenging and tiring long-distance race. The Night Glow event on Friday, 2 February will see hot-air balloons, paragliders and skiers gliding in harmony to music from the world of Charlie Chaplin, who will be present in the symbolic form of the Chaplin's World by Grévin balloon. Without the contribution of our sponsors and partners and the support of many authorities and institutions, this story would come to an end, so we owe them our thanks. Our thanks also to our ambassadors Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones; to the friends of the festival, its volunteers, and former committee members including those who have passed; and of course to those who watch entranced as the balloons drift by – our spectators. A big thank you to you all. Christian Raymond Frédéric Delachaux President of the association President of the organising committee 5 SOME FIGURES THE FESTIVAL REPRESENTS: years of a40 festival full of joy, tears, laughter, other4 types of encounters flying machine (planes, and flights helicopters, paragliders, Between 20,000 parachutes) and spectators40,000 per event 4types of lighter-than-air craft (hot-air balloons, airships, volunteers and hoppers, balloons) 60 members of the25 organising committee copies15,000 of the official programme pilots, printed and distributed representing70 for each event 15 In short, countries unrivalled 1 event! hot-air70 balloons 6 USEFUL INFORMATION ENTRY TICKETS HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE Tickets at the gate on the day. Entrance fee Children CHF 50 per day (children under 16 free), including Adults CHF 60 entry to the Espace Ballon museum, with Air Glaciers philatelic exhibition and slideshow of the Payment in cash on the day. Etivaz cellars: 15 Saturday and Sunday CHF Y R T Wednesday afternoon CHF 5 N E Full-event pass (commemorative pin) CHF 25 TETHERED FLIGHTS Pins giving unlimited access to the festival can Children be purchased in advance from tourist offices (aged 5 to 12) CHF 10 and selected businesses around Pays-d'Enhaut Tethered flights will take for CHF 20. Available 20 December to 25 Jan- place in the grounds each uary. certains commerces du Pays-d’Enhaut. weekend from 10:30 to 12:30, weather permitting (in particular the surface wind). The number of places is limited. Tickets on sale from 10:00. BALLOON FLIGHTS Children (under 16) CHF 195 Adults CHF 390 Tickets from the passenger flights hut. The PARKING day’s entry will be refunded for each flight Access to parking near the festival will booked (Pins excluded). be available at the weekends for a fee (see pages 95-96), if the ground condi- tions permit. PRIZE DRAW Per vehicle CHF 5 3 balloon flights and 2 helicopter flights to be won! Every entry ticket bought on the Saturday or IGHT LOW Sunday mornings of the event will be included N G in the draw. Friday, 2 February from 18:58 Flights won must be taken the same day. The only “Son et Lumière” show in Switzerland! Balloons, paragliders, and skiers of the Swiss Ski School illuminate the night FOLLOW THE FESTIVAL ONLINE! sky to the accompaniment of music www.festivaldeballons.ch and a grand firework display. @festivaldeballons More information on pages 20-21. SAMEDI 7 27JANVIER PROGRAMME Samedi 27 janvier Saturday 27 January 09.45 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Chasse au renard du ballon inconnu Unknown balloon Hare & Hounds Vols passagers en hélicoptère Helicopter passenger flights Vols captifs pour les enfants (jusqu’à 12 ans) Tether flights for children (under 13) Animations avec le Festival au Pays Activities with the “Au Pays 10.30 des Enfants des Enfants” Festival Ballons pirates (voir page 81) Pirates balloons (see page 81) Démonstration de la fabrication du L'Etivaz AOP cheese making show fromage L'Etivaz AOP Cérémonie officielle d’ouverture Official opening ceremony of e th 11.30 du 40 Festival International de Ballons the 40 International Balloon Festival en présence de la Fête des Vignerons 2019, with the “Fête des Vignerons 2019”, invité d'honneur guest of honor Gonflage et démonstrations Inflation and take-off 11.45 de formes spéciales of special shape balloons - Démonstration de Sky Chariots & Sky Chariot & Cloudhopper show 13.00 Cloudhoppers Shows aériens Air shows 13.30 • Avion acrobatique Extra 330 LX • Extra 330 LX acrobatic airplane show - • Modèles réduits de montgolfière • Mini balloons show 14.30 • Dirigeable à air chaud • Hot air airship • Parachutistes & Parapentistes • Parachutists & Paragliders 14.45 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Vols libres ballons Fiesta, Free-flying Fiesta balloons, 15.00 Chasse au renard Parmigiani Parmigiani Hare & Hounds Vernissage Exposition philatélique, Opening of the Stamp Exhibition, 17.00 salle du Conseil Communal salle du Conseil Communal 8 DIMANCHE 28JANVIER PROGRAMME Dimanche 28 janvier Sunday 28 January 09.45 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Décollage groupé ballons Fiesta: Mass ascension Fiesta balloons: Chasse au renard BCV BCV Hare & Hounds Vols passagers en hélicoptère Helicopter passenger flights Vols captifs pour les enfants (jusqu’à 12 ans) Tether flights for children (under 13) 10.30 Animations avec le Festival au Pays Activities with the “Au Pays des Enfants des Enfants” Festival Ballons pirates (voir page 81) Pirates balloons (see page 81) Démonstration de la fabrication du L'Etivaz AOP cheese making show fromage L'Etivaz AOP Décollage groupé ballons Fiesta: Mass ascension Fiesta balloons: Chasse du Jumelage Château-d’Oex (CH) Twinning Hare & Hounds 11.15 – Romorantin (F) – Bristol (GB) – Château-d’Oex (CH) – Romorantin (F) – St-Niklaas (B) Bristol (GB) – St-Niklaas (B) 11.45 Gonflage et envol de formes spéciales Inflation and take-off - Démonstration de Sky Chariots & of special shape balloons 13.00 Cloudhoppers Sky Chariot & Cloudhopper show 13.30 - Shows aériens Air shows 14.30 14.45 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Cible de haute précision Parmigiani Parmigiani high-precision target 15.00 Vols libres ballons Fiesta Free-flying Fiesta balloons Programme sous toute réserve de modifications en fonction des conditions météorologiques et des décisions du comité d’organisation. This programme may be subject to change according to weather conditions and Committee decisions. 9 DU LUNDI AU29 VENDREDRI 2FÉVRIER PROGRAMME Lundi 29 janvier Monday 29 January au vendredi 2 février to Friday 2 February Vols passagers tous les jours de la semaine Passenger flights every day (voir page 13) (see page 13) 09.45 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Compétitions pour les pilotes: Competitions for pilots: • David Niven Cup • David Niven Cup • Les deux Gruyères • The Two Gruyères • Chasse au renard • Hare & Hounds • Cible de haute précision Parmigiani • Parmigiani high-precision target • Vol de l’amitié • Friendship flight Dès 13.30 Fiesta et vols passagers Fiesta and passenger flights Mercredi 31 janvier Wednesday 31 January Journée des enfants Children’s Day • Vols captifs • Tether rides • Animations diverses en collaboration • Various shows and activities Dès / avec le Festival au Pays des Enfants with the “Festival au Pays des Enfants” From • Démonstration et initiation à la danse • Oriental dance show and initation with 13.30 orientale avec le Festival Orient'Alp Kids the Orient'Alp Kids Festival • Grand lâcher de ballons • Balloon release followed suivi d’un goûter offert aux enfants by a free snack for children • Vols passagers en hélicoptère • Helicopter passenger flights Conférence «Handiflight autour du monde: “Handiflight around the world: change your 20.00 changer de regard sur le handicap», cinéma perception of disability” conference, Eden Eden (voir page 87) cinema (see page 87) Vendredi 2 février Friday 2 February Night Glow, spectacle sons et lumières Night Glow, sound and light show • Illumination des ballons & • Glowing balloons & musical choreography Chorégraphie musicale • Paragliders’ and Swiss Ski 18.58 • Spectacle de nuit des parapentistes School’s night show et de l’École