Competition flying is different than regular flying because pilots are completing a task while flying. These tasks can vary depending on the level of competition you are in but most countries now use the formally recognized tasks, which are set at world championship level. Listed below are the tasks currently being used by the world ballooning competition organizations:
Pilot declared goal:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to a goal selected and declared by him before flight. The result is the distance from the mark to nearest valid declared goal. Smallest result is best.
Judge declared goal:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to a set goal. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
Hesitation waltz:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to one of several set goals. The result is the distance from the mark to the nearest target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
Fly in:
Competitors find their own launch areas and attempt to drop a marker close to a set goal or target. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
Fly on:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to a goal selected and declared by them during flight. The result is the distance from the mark to the nearest valid declared goal. Smallest result is best. The competitor must write clearly on the previous marker the declared goal for fly on. If the previous marker is not dropped or no goal is written on the marker the competitor will not achieve a result.
Hare and hounds:
Competitors follow a hare balloon and attempt to drop a marker close to a target displayed by the hare no more than two meters upwind of the basket after landing. The result is the distance from the mark to the target. Smallest result is best.
Watership down:
Competitors fly to the launch point of a hare balloon, follow the hare and attempt to drop a marker close to a target displayed by the hare no more than two meters upwind of the basket after landing. The result is the distance from the mark to the target. Smallest result is best.
Gordon Bennett Memorial:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker within a scoring area(s) close to a set goal. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best.
Calculated Rate of Approach Task (CRAT):
Competitors attempt to drop a marker within a valid scoring area close to a set goal. The scoring area(s) will have unique times of validity. The result is the distance from the mark to the target, if displayed, or goal. Smallest result is best. A competitor who does not achieve a mark inside a scoring area during its time of validity, will not achieve a result.
Race to an area:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker in the shortest time within a scoring area(s). The result is the elapsed time from take off to the marker drop. Smallest result is best. The timing ends at the moment the marker is released, falling or on the ground as seen by the observer or recovered in the hands of the observer which ever is first.
Elbow:
Competitors attempt to achieve the greatest change of direction in flight. The result is 180 degrees minus the angle ABC. Greatest result is best.
Land run:
Competitors attempt to achieve the greatest area of a triangle “A”, “B” and “C” The result is the area of triangle ABC. Greatest result is best.
Minimum distance:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to the common launch point, after flying a minimum set time. The result is the distance from the mark to the launch point. Smallest result is best.
Shortest flight:
Competitors attempt to drop a marker close to the launch point within a set scoring area(s). The result is the distance from the mark to the launch point. Smallest result is best.
Minimum distance double drop:
Competitors attempt to drop two markers close together in different scoring areas. The result is the distance between the marks. Smallest result is best.
As you can see, balloon competitions can be very demanding and exciting to be involved in. They add a completely new aspect to balloon flying. Some competitors work as teams and even use computer programmes to help them forecast and plan their task setting. The use of a GPS (Global positioning system) is now used in most competitions at national and international level to assist in navigation and target setting. Balloon competitions have now come a long way from when being 30m or 100 feet away from the target was thought to be a winning position.