Colourful spectacle in the Brixen Valley

Updated 26.09.2022

At the 33rd edition of the Libro Balloon Cup, the skies above the Brixen Valley once again offered a colourful spectacle last week

This typical colourful and cheerful picture is simply part of September in the Brixen Valley: Countless hot air balloons transforming the sky above Kirchberg, Brixen and Westendorf into a colourful sea of balloons. This year again, 30 balloon teams from six nations took to the skies for the 33rd edition of the International Libro Balloon Cup. However, since in ballooning the wind alone determines the direction, this year's edition was somewhat different from the usual. Due to the weather, the event started later than planned and unfortunately without scoring flights, and the popular Night of the Balloons and the Libro Children's Afternoon were postponed to Wednesday, 21 September.

Many locals and guests got a taste of "ballooning air"

On the other hand, many guests and locals took advantage of the unique opportunity to get a bird's eye view of the unique autumn landscape with its rich colours and snow-covered peaks during the public flights in the morning and evening. Under the direction of Irmgard Moser, a varied balloon week could therefore once again be held in Brixen, Kirchberg and Westendorf: "It was a little different this year than usual, the weather conditions were very good for the morning flights, but for the evening flights we always had extremely annoying easterly winds, which are very difficult to fly. But the teams - this year for the first time we also had four female pilots at the start - are satisfied. And the great autumnal atmosphere, with the freshly sugared mountains, made the flights something very special," said Balloon Cup organiser Irmgard Moser.