November 19th

Yesterday was just a day of filling in paperwork, attending briefings and getting refueled. We loaded the mapping system for Motegi and loaded the target points.
Nov 19th
Derek gets ready for the start of the competition. We have the same crew from last year, so we`re very lucky as Utah is a good driver and knows the area very well, and Blue Mountain man is a great map reader and has muscles. ( His name translates into blue mountain, so thats easier to remember )

Competition is very serious in Motegi, so we try to be ready to fly when everyone else is ready, so as not to look to much like novices.
All the balloons are heading for the target at the local school. Derek is in the middle of them, so we`re looking good.
Derek is flying over the target, and drops his marker for a great score! The closest one to the target so far!
We`re normally in the next field to the target, so I had to capture this ! What a great start to the competition. We were the second closest out of all the balloons.

Coming into the second target, we watched from the bridge, the target was on the waters edge. The wind had died and the balloons had trouble trying to get close.
This is the orchard that Derek landed in. He flew above the trees, then directly dropped down. We did have to walk him out , onto the road, before he could lay the balloon down, but very good manoevering skills. Overall , very pleased with the mornings competition. We have 1hr, to get refueled, and get lunch, then afternoon briefing is at 2pm.

Afternoon competition is to (1) follow Honda Asimo balloon till he lands, where he will put out a red cross target, drop a beanbag onto the target, then choose an official target to throw another beanbag. Derek was the second to last balloon to reach Asimo target, but got a good result, then reach his self declared goal, and threw his beanbag within 5 meters of target. Overall, very please with first days results, but we`ll see how the experienced pilots did when they print out scores tomorrow morning. Trying to get an early night, as we have to be at the morning briefing by 5.30am.