Swiss success at the European Hot Air Championships in Wieselburg
Swiss pilot Stefan Zeberli won his sixth European Championship title at the 23rd FAI European Hot Air Balloon Championships in Wieselburg, Austria, after a week of intensive flights with challenging tasks.
Zeberli went into the competition as one of the favorites and number 1 in the FAI world rankings and fully lived up to his status by securing another European title. He won his first title in France in 2009, followed by victories in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019. He also won the World Championship in 2022.
Zeberli praised the "perfect weather conditions" and said: "I am very proud of my teamWe had a wonderful week... I can't put it into words, I'm very emotional to have the trophy back home."
Towards the end of the competition, the pressure increased in a neck-and-neck race between the best-placed pilots. It was the skillful consistency of the 43-year-old Zeberli, which took him to the top in Wieselburg, Austria. The 32-year-old Dominic Bareford from Great Britain put up an impressive fight against the Swiss champion, but ultimately had to settle for second place and said: "Overall, there were many positive aspects, but a small part of me feels like I missed an opportunity." Zeberli's Swiss teammate David Strasmann, 44, took third place and said he was "very proud to be on the podium again".
The award ceremony took place on August 23 and was the highlight of a spectacular one-week eventThe balloons lit up the sky over the Austrian Mostviertel region in a blaze of color.
At the award ceremony, Claude Weber, President of the FAI Balloon Commission, said: "With very good weather and a great flying site, the pilots were very lucky and were faced with challenging but interesting tasks. "We couldn't have asked for anything better, with very good organizers who put on a great event in Europe."
At the end of the event, the organizers confirmed that the next FAI European Hot Air Balloon Championships will be held in Mallorca, Spain, in 2027.
Results
- Stefan Zeberli (SUI)
- Dominic Bareford (GBR)
- David Strasmann (SUI)