Our 2022 Pilot Lineup!
We are happy to introduce the pilots registered for the 2022 Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival. Not only do we have our local pilots, we have representation from across Alberta, BC through Ontario. We anticipate our international friends from the United States, United Kingdom, and Belgium will be able to participate again this year.
Enjoy becoming familiar with the pilots and their balloons so you'll know who is in the sky when we fly. As of July 2022, we have 25 entrants. That number may increase or decrease over the coming weeks as details are finalized.
Competitor: #1
Pilot: Dale W. Ritchie
From: Golden BC
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
5 Time Canadian Hot Air Balloon Champion
Dale Ritchie has been a licensed balloon pilot since 1978 when he flew for sport, then began flying commercially in 1979. In 43 years of flying, Dale as over 4500 hours in the air noted in his log book. He has balloon licenses in Canada, the United States and United Kingdom and has flown in 8 countries. As a Certified Flight Instructor, Dale has trained many pilots over the years and is a balloon Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Balloon: Emily
Call Letters: C-FJAV
Type: Sundance SBA77
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
World Traveller
Emily was built in 2006 and made her inaugural flight in Motegi, Japan at the 2006 World Hot Air Balloon Championship. Over the past 15 years she has flown at a number of festivals and competitions for the last fifteen years. You may recognize Emily as a familiar face from past Festivals in High River.
Discover more about Dale Ritchie's hot air ballooning adventures.
Competitor: #2
Pilot: Brant Leatherdale
From: Calgary AB
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Local Flyer
Brant Leatherdale is a pilot from Calgary where he lives with his wife, Tara, and children and is self-employed. Brant mainly flies in Western Canada and has attended major ballooning events in the USA and Mexico. Having attended every Festival since 2013, Brant is looking forward to flying the skies over High River again this year.
Balloon: Herbal Magic
Call Letters: C-GHER
Type: Firefly 8B 15
Size (volume): 90000
Category: Sport
Magic in the Air
Herbal Magic is a familiar sight at the Festival and will be flying once again. The bright green envelope is easy to spot from the ground given its striking contrast against the blue sky.
See more about Brant Leatherdale's wishes for the Festival.
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Competitor: #3
Pilot: Del Michaud
From: Calgary AB
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Mountain Man
Del Michaud is just shy of his piloting golden anniversary of piloting having received his license in 1974. He has competed in several Canadian Balloon Championships and is a former Canadian Balloon Champion. Del's skills are known on the world stage as well. He has flown internationally in 15 countries and represented Canada at 6 World Balloon Championships. Two of Del's most unique ballooning experiences have been flying in the Canadian Rockies and the Swiss Alps.
Balloon: Pepe Le Pew
Call Letters: C-GXLU
Type: Balloon Works FF7B
Size (volume): 65000
Category: Sport
Flying Romantic
Pepe Le Pew returns to High River once again as the near rainbow in the sky without a raindrop to be seen.
See what else Del Michaud has been up to.
Competitor: #4
Pilots: Cathy Dudgeon
From: High River AB
Attended: 2021, 2022
Sequins of Events
Cathy Dudgeon's love of ballooning began in the 1980's but she focused on career and family until 2013 when the Festival came to High River. Cathy volunteered as a crew member and became hooked all over again. After 7 months of training, she became a licensed pilot in March 2021. She is also known for sewing mini balloons and sequined vests. You may have met Cathy at an Intro to Hot Air Ballooning or Crew Training workshop where she combines her love of teaching and ballooning. Her sights are set now on becoming a flight instructor.
Balloon: Maryann's Treat
Call Letters: C-FRMN
Type: Cameron O-77
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
A Dream Come True
Maryann's Treat is named in honour of Cathy's mother, Maryann. With the support of friends, family and the ballooning community, Cathy used the inheritance from her mother to purchase well-used but still well-loved equipment to pursue her dream of learning to fly a balloon. Be sure to note Maryann's Treat call letters so you can identify her in the sky. She is the older twin of another balloon in the Festival.
Learn more about Cathy Dudgeon's flying journey so far.
Competitor: #5
Pilot: Bill Dickinson
From: Rolling Hills AB
Attended: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Ballooning in the Blood
Bill Dickinson first took to the skies with some thin fabric and a bunch of hot air in 1993. It was love at first flight and he became hooked on ballooning. Bill began pilot training in 2001 and became a licensed pilot in December 2002. Since then he has flown in locations from Billings MT through to Grand Prairie AB and looks forward to exploring more places from the sky and ground. Bill and Annette, his wife, enjoy farming outside of Rolling Hills AB, although it does cut into flying time.
Balloon: Geppetto
Call Letters: C-GFPH
Type: Galaxy GLX 7
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
Love of a Woodcarver
Geppetto became Bill's flying partner in 2013. The patchwork of red, orange, and yellow brightens the skies every time she flies.
Read more about Bill Dickinson's ballooning adventures.
Competitor: #6
Pilot: Peter Van Overwalle
From: Belgium & Ennis MT USA
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022
World Traveller
Peter Van Overwalle's journey to become a pilot started as a passenger in 1997. The next step was crewing in 1998 and then received his pilot's license in 1999. He flew commercially in Belgium for 12 years until family business matters required more of his time. Peter has 1100 hours in his log book with flying a range of balloons from a cloudhopper to 300,000 cubic feet. Ballooning has taken Peter around the world having flown in 20 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.
Balloon: Princess Nelly
Call Letters: N917PN
Type: Kubichek BB30Z
Size (volume): 105000
Category: Special Shape
Princess Nelly
Princess Nelly will brighten the skies with her bright pink complexion, goofy smile, and big silver crown. She is the youngest, but most regal sister of Nelly (grey) and Nelly B (pink).
Read more about Peter Van Overwhalle and Princess Nelly's adventures.
Competitor: #7
Pilot: Cliff Skocdopole
From: Condor AB
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
BALLOONATIC!
Cliff Skocdopole's love of hot air ballooning began with a Father's Day ride in 2009. By early 2010, Cliff received his pilot's license. Cliff has flown in the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships as well as the Worlds in 2018. Cliff and Sheri, his wife of over 35 years, have travelled to numerous festivals across Canada, the USA and internationally. Cliff loves ballooning for the peaceful times in the air, being at the mercy of the wind, bringing smiles to faces and meeting great people.
Balloon: Northern FLights
Call Letters: C-GHOT
Type: Kubicek BB26XR
Size (volume): 90000
Category: Racer
Glowing Sky
Northern FLights is the newest hot air balloon in Cliff's collection and one of two balloons flying in the Festival. Also note Northern FLights' slender profile indicative of a racer.
Read more about where Cliff Skocdopole loves to fly.
Competitor: #8
Pilot: Michael King
From: Sandia Park NM USA
Attended: 2022
The "Southern Canadian"
Mike King’s caught the balloon bug late in life. A former US Air Force Fighter pilot, he was innocently lured into harmless crewing by his Canadian friends, the Skocdopoles and Clarks. The next thing Mike knew, he was a full-fledged BALLOONATIC like his friends. Mike and and his bride Donna try to fly most weekends, enjoying the camaraderie of the ballooning community and meeting the enthusiastic fans at balloon events.
Balloon: Upsy Daisy
Call Letters: N100UM
Type: Cameron AX8/084
Size (volume): 90000
Category: Sport
Uplifting Experience
Just like the words of encouragement said to children, Upsy Daisy is a big, bright daisy in the sky soaring and lifting spirits everywhere.
Read more about Michael King's ballooning background.
Competitor: #9
Pilot: Jennifer Podruski
From: High River AB
Attended: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Up in the Air
Jenn Podruski was introduced to hot air ballooning when she crewed at the 2014 Festival. The pilot took her up for her first flight and she was hooked. She pursued her pilot's license in 2017 and returned to the Festival as a pilot in 2018. When not on-call as a paramedic, Jenn has flown from various small towns across Alberta as well as Montana, BC and in 2019, the "Super Bowl" of ballooning at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. In August 2021, Jenn flew in her first competitive event at the Canadian National Championships Quebec.
Balloon: Louie
Call Letters: C-FVEN
Type: Aerosport RX7
Size (volume): 77500
Category: Sport
On That Ship, I Dream
Louie and Jenn have been partners in the sky since October 2017. Wave and say "Hi!" when you see the colour splash in the air or at the Balloon Glow.
Learn more about why Jenn Podruski's loves ballooning.
Competitor: #10
Pilot: Richard Clark
From: Calgary AB
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Fiesta Party
Richard Clark began crewing in 1989 with a fun-loving group in Calgary. The excitement of ballooning led him to get his pilot license in 1992 and fly a Calgary Balloon Club balloon. In 2001, Richard and Heather, his wife, wanted to further their experience by having their own balloon. Richard enjoys the relaxed fun of fiesta flying and views the competition component as a chance to use planning and map reading skills along with team work. Coming close to a competition target makes for added excitement and fun.
Balloon: Our Treat
Call Letters: C-FGBY
Type: Cameron O77
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
Delightful Skies
Our Treat in 2021 is the newest version of the original Our Treat acquired in 2001. The name was chosen based on what a treat is was for Richard and Heather to fly the skies in such a colourful balloon at events across western Canada. Make note of Our Treat's call letters so as not to do a double take with another entry in the Festival.
Learn more about Richard Clark's love of ballooning.
Competitor: #11
Pilots: Walt & Linda Then
From: Calgary AB
Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Five Decades of Ballooning
Walt and Linda Then began their hot air ballooning adventures in 1980 when Walt started crewing with the Calgary Balloon Club. Linda started crewing in 1982, the same year Walt got his pilot's license, and received her pilot license in 1990. Over the years, their travels took them to many balloon events. Walt and Linda can be seen at more local events in Alberta these days, including Raven AB every October. The Thens have hosted the Raven Festival for the last 39 years, complete with a spooky costume party .
Balloon: Big Toy II
Call Letters: C-GTHE
Type: Cameron O77
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
A Big Toy Box
Big Toy II has flown at the Festival since 2017, replacing her predecessor Big Toy who retired after 30 years of flying.
Learn more about Walt & Linda Then's background and ballooning journey.
Competitor: #12
Pilots: Michael Lavoie
From: West Ossipee NH
Attended: 2022
A Lot of Firsts
Michael Lavoie and his wife took their first balloon ride in August 1981. They missed their wedding rehearsal to skydive out of a balloon. A year and two flights later they landed in the balloon for the first time. Watching their first Albuquerque Fiesta launch in 1996 was all it took for them to buy their first balloon. They flew their first Fiesta in 2000 with their first built balloon Fudly, a 56K balloon. Michael's favourite place to fly is at GEMAB in Chambley, France. will be making his fourth trip to GEMAB in 2023.
Balloon: Schmedley
Call Letters: N101TM
Type: Lavoie 77K2YG
Size (volume): 77000
Category: Sport
