Nick Donner Wins Coveted Top Spot

Few pilots get to wear the title of "World's Best" in any aspect of this overtly complex business, but in the case of a US Balloonist, one pilot can now proudly note that he truly is the best on/over earth.

Nick Donner of Fischerville, KY is the new World Champion Hot Air Balloonist. Donner claimed the title Saturday after a week of competitions in Battle Creek, MI. Defending World Champion John Petrehn finished 2nd while Yudai Fujita of Japan was 3rd. Donner's younger brother Chase, finished 4th as Team USA claimed 3 of the top 5 positions. Uwe Schneider of Germany rounded out the Top 5.

Some 103 pilots representing 30 countries participated in the World Championship hosted by the Balloon Federation of America and Sanctioned by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. The World Championships of Ballooning are held every two years and the next will be staged in Brazil in 2014.

Donner knows the Battle Creek flying area extremely well as he won the 2009-10 and 11 US National Championships back to back to back when held there. He has won a total of 5 US National Championships. It's been quite a month for the Donner family as younger brother Chase won his first National Championship just 3 weeks ago in Longview, Texas.

[ANN Thanks 'BalloonPong.com for the pix]

FMI: www.balloonworlds2012.com, www.balloonpong.com