Up, up and away: ballooning takes people to new heights
By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on July 26, 2024.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
Three balloons lift off from Nicholas Sheran Park on a recent weekend early morning, soaring aloft into the southern Alberta sky from the park, attracting onlookers.Residents of Lethbridge can view the beautiful city at new heights with a hot air balloon experience from Kiss the Sky Balloons.
Hot air ballooning has around since 1783, longer than both cars and planes.
Brant Leatherdale, owner of Kiss the Sky Balloons, says the experience of Ballooning is unlike any other.
“It’s unlike any other experience. The best word I can describe a hot air balloon thing is it’s very peaceful…it’s not like a roller coaster. It’s not like a theme park ride. It’s not like an airplane. It’s not like a helicopter. It’s unique to itself. And it’s just the sensation of floating,” said Leatherdale.
The flights, more often than not, start at sunrise which ensures the best weather and wind is the lowest, especially in Lethbridge.
“It’s very safe when you do it on the safe days to fly early mornings at sunrise when the breezes are gentle,” said Leatherdale.
According to Kiss the Sky Balloons website there will be safety briefing before the flight to make sure passengers feel safe during the flight.
Data from the National Transportation Safety Board in the U.S. shows there have been 775 hot air balloon accidents in that country since 1964 but only 70 had fatalities.
A January story on the BBC website says a 2024 report shows that around the world between 2008 and 2022, there were 30 hot air balloon deaths with being killed by a shark, lightning or falling into the Grand Canyon being more likely.
Website seattleballooning.com says people are more likely to be hurt in a car than flying in a balloon because they fly only in good weather and slow winds, which the site says helps prevent accidents.
Most balloons carry between 40 and 80 gallons of liquid propane in steel fuel tanks and have two fuel and burner systems for redundancy.
Leatherman says Lethbridge is one of the most beautiful places one can hot air balloon.
“It’s just a very, very beautiful place. With scenery, the high level bridge and the valleys, the coulees, the wildlife and the greenery,” said Leatherdale.
While weekends are booked solid for balloon rides, Leatherdale says there is plenty of opportunity to fly during the week.
Kiss the Sky Balloons run from May through October and more information can be found on their webpage http://www.kisstheskyballoons.ca.
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