BRANSGROVE, Chris
From: Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand
Balloon: REMAX (ZK-WON)

Chris has been flying hot air balloons for 26 years. He has been pilot of the REMAX balloon for the past five years and owned New Zealand’s first single man balloon. Chris attended the world’s biggest annual hot air balloon fiesta in Albuquerque in 2002, and came first in the ‘Flight of the Nations’ event.

BROWN, Mark
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: Hamilton (ZK-UPP)

Mark has been involved in hot air ballooning for seven years, initially as crew and now as a pilot. He has attended fiestas in Australia, Wairarapa and Waikato. Mark was the winner of the 2009 Wairarapa event. Mark now owns and operates the Kiwi Balloon Company in Hamilton.

CARTER, Matt
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Pee Wee (ZK-PWE)

Matt has flown in festivals in the Wairarapa, Hamilton and Albuquerque, USA. He learnt to fly with Peter King in the Bernina balloon which was the third registered balloon in New Zealand.

CLIFTON, John
From: Nelson, New Zealand
Balloon: Tanswell (ZK-FAC)

John first flew in NZ at the 2003 Wairarapa fiesta after moving to from the UK to Motueka with his family in 2002.  John had his first balloon flight in 1979 and has flown over 600 hours in balloons. John has flown in Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, across London, English channel, Dover to Dunkerque and Alps.

CURSONS, Scott
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-LAR)

Scott has been involved in ballooning for the last 16 years, mainly as a crew member and has attended many festivals throughout New Zealand, in the UK and France. Scott completed his UK PPL in France and in 2006 purchased his own balloon. Scott’s passion for aviation extends to his position as a Licenced Aircraft Engineer and also Kitesurfing.

HOPPING, Lance
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloons: Mr Big (ZK-XXF)

Lance gained his hot air balloon licence in 1995. Lance owns and operates Ballooning New Zealand Ltd, and has over 1000 hours commercial ballooning experience. Lance has attended many previous fiestas in the Wairarapa and Waikato. He is currently flying one of New Zealand's biggest balloons, a Cameron 210, which can carry 10 passengers plus pilot.

KING, Peter
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Flagship (FAG)

Peter has attended many fiestas in New Zealand. He has flown in the Wairarapa and around New Zealand to promote his own company's balloon. Peter usually launches from his own backyard and specialises in high altitude flights. This year Peter will fly a light 'Boland Balloon' made by Brian Boland in Vermont, USA.

MCKEE, Daryl
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: Freedom (ZK-FAX)

A former member of the Royal NZ Air Force, Daryl gained his commercial pilot license in June 1992. He is now a director of the Balloon Expedition Co of NZ. He first flew a balloon in 1982 and has since logged more than 1500 flying hours. Daryl has also flown in Waikato and at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

OAKLEY, Michael
From: Darfield, New Zealand
Balloon: vegetables.co.nz (ZK-WRU)

Flying balloons since 1997, Michael has flown in festivals throughout NZ. This will be his 11th time attending the Wairarapa event (winner of the 2004 and 2005 Wairarapa fiestas).  He represented New Zealand at the world champs in Australia in 2004. Michael is also a keen glider pilot with over 3,500 hours. Following his father’s passions son Nicholas is also a keen balloonist, and now 16 years old.

OAKLEY, Nicholas
From: Darfield, New Zealand
Balloon: (ZK-FBO)

Nicholas is 16 years old and has been attending balloon fiestas since he was 5. He first soloed in a balloon at 12 years of age and has been co-pilot with his father Michael Oakley for many years. Nicholas will be flying by himself at this festival and is flying the Canterbury Balloon Club Balloon. Nicholas, like his father, also flies gliders.

SALE, Ross
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Balloon: Bittersweet (N8295)

Ross has been flying balloons since 1982, originally in the USA where the 'air bug' first got him. He returned to his native New Zealand in 1994, with ballooning and yachting fitted into any spare moments. Ross does most of his flying in the North Island. He has flown in the last nine Wairarapa fiestas.

SCOTT, Craig
From: Masterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Jelly Bean (ZK-FAI)

Craig started crewing in 2001 at the Wairarapa festival and then went on to crew in Hamilton and at the Wairarapa events during the following years. In 07 and 08 he crewed for Brian Boland and at the end of the 08 festival decided to buy the balloon from Brian. Craig is still training with only 12 hours of flying so flew with Dan King in the 09 event. He is hoping to fly again this year with a qualified pilot. Craig is supported by his family who crew for him.

SHAW, Murray
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
Balloon: (N9020 Q)

Murray has recently retired from the asphalt business and is busy with diving, fishing, ballooning, planting trees and cultivating native and other exotic birds. This is only his fifth year of ballooning yet he has already flown over 40 flights.

SHOUSE, Michael
From: Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Balloon: Coke (N28861)

Recently relocated to the Hutt Valley, Michael has been a US-licensed commercial pilot for the last 30 years. He is employed by the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ. Chief pilot of the Coca Cola Balloon for the last 20 years, Michael competed in the 1979, 1981 and 1983 World Championships, several US National Championships and has flown many commemorative events worldwide.

STACEY, Martyn
From: Blenheim, New Zealand
Balloon: The Three Amigos (ZK-OOH)

Martyn has been into ‘lighter than air’ for some 29 years. He is the president of the Ballooning Association of NZ and the flight director for both Wairarapa and Waikato events. He has attended every Wairarapa festival. Martyn is a commercial balloon pilot for UP, UP and Away Balloon Adventures in Christchurch flying the biggest balloon in NZ - a Cameron A 375 (10,618 cubic mtrs) that can take up to 24 passengers. Other than that Martyn does, ballooning for fun, to learn and to meet likeminded people and do what it takes to have events like this in NZ.

WATSON, Howard
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Balloon: Mogul (ZK-FBA)

Howard started flying in 1996 and has attended fiestas in the Wairarapa, Hamilton, Blenheim, Hastings, Methven and Levin. He was the winner of the BNZ Waikato Championship in 2006. Howard has attended the Wairarapa festival since 2007 and looks forward to the fun of the festival in 2010.

WILTON, Mark & Aaron
From: Carterton, New Zealand
Balloon: Spirit of the West (ZK-KKH)

Mark and son, Aaron, became involved with ballooning eight years ago as ground crew. When a friend gave up ballooning, Mark learnt to fly his balloon and now Aaron is also a pilot. The family duo are looking forward to their fourth festival where more time will be spent in the air than on the ground. Mark was the winner of the WEL Energy Trust Trophy at the Waikato event in 2009.