Local ballooning will continue on

When Meadville resident Roger Miller started ballooning in the late 1990s this area could've had a mini hot -air ballooning festival just about any day of the week. The city of Meadville itself had four balloonists. Add Cambridge Springs and Edinboro and there were even more. So for years the Thurston Classic made a lot of sense being a Meadville thing.

Now in 2022, Miller is the only one left with a balloon. Most others have given up their balloons, retired or passed away. A little less than two-years ago, the main organizer of the Thurston, Ted Watts Sr. died due to complications surrounding COVID-19. The pandemic had already cancelled the event in 2020 and then it took its leader.

The fate of the Father's Day staple event in Crawford County was up-in-the-air with the prospect that it could be grounded forever.

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This past weekend, though the weather didn’t cooperate, the pilots, the committee, and Watts family answered the question with a firm commitment that the event will continue.

​When balloon meister, Alex Jonard, a long-time participant in the classic, was asked if there was ever a doubt the event would return he simply stated “Not to me.”

After 30 plus years the event has grown beyond just one person.

 “We’re optimistic and excited that this will continue on,” said Watts daughter, Angela Gibbons, as she stood looking up at her dad’s old balloon. She and her family posed for family photos on Father's Day with his iconic yellow "Legal Eagle" balloon. As Gibbons struggled to hold back tears, she agreed that keeping this event alive is a great tribute to her father’s legacy. 

The family, especially Ted Watts Jr. are now actively involved with the committee.

Last Thursday the 32nd annual Thurston Classic kicked-off at the Robertson Athletic complex at Allegheny College with a traditional Night Glow. The balloons were inflated at dusk and the burners lit just enough to make the colorful balloons glow, but not lift off. At the end of this event the pilots and committee were able to honor Ted Sr.’s memory.

As the balloons began to deflate, Watts old balloon remained inflated. The pilots then positioned their now balloon-less baskets in a line and lit their burners, an act called a candle-stick glow. “Ted was a military man so this seemed appropriate to have this kind of tribute,” said Miller, a long-time balloonist friend of Watts.

Jonard told the crowd this was a “21-burn salute.” 

Miller thought this was personally moving, but as he participated all he could think about was how his old friend wouldn’t have liked the attention. “Knowing him I know he would say ‘What are you doing this for?’ But I think it would’ve made him humbled and proud.” 

Ted Jr., who didn’t know this was planned stood on the side of the field staring at the tribute and his dad's ballon. “That is awesome,” he said quietly almost under his breath.

The Thurston Classic was off to a good start, a big Thursday crowd and a lot of smiling faces left the field at the end. Photographs littered Facebook and the event was again the talk of the town.

Unfortunately, the rest of the weekend’s four scheduled launches did not go as planned. 

The cool breeze after a couple of hot summer nights last week may have seemed like a welcomed respite to everyone gathering along the hillside to see the balloons, but to the pilots that cool breeze was not cool at all,  in fact it was downright dangerous.

​Winds exceeding 10 mph is too much for safe ballooning. And it isn’t just the wind running through our hair, the balloonist has to know what the wind speed is a different elevations.

A typical hot air balloon flight is between 800 and 1000 feet up in the air. The balloon meister’s job is to know when it is safe. One of the ways they figure it out is by sending up a small balloon known as a pi-ball to observe its reaction to the wind as it ascends. They also use more sophisticated weather tracking instruments and check the national weather radar.

​“Every balloonist wants to fly, but they also want to fly safely, “said Phil Koon, one of the Thurston Classic committee members. 

Each of the planned flights were hopeful, but the weather didn’t cooperate for any of them - so no balloons went up into the skies over Meadville this year.

The organizers still did what they could to educate and entertain the crowd.

“We have a few tricks up our sleeves,” said Jonard. 

They put out equipment for people to see and had some alternative fun activities.

​The food trucks gave the event a festival atmosphere and they played music throughout.

Disappointed with no flights, the committee looked to early Sunday morning to at least give people something before the weekend was over. “Alex Janard and the committee did the next best thing this morning,” said Miller. At sunrise the balloon pilots assembled in a line to inflate their balloons. 

At first only about a dozen people were milling around to see what was happening. By the time the balloons were all inflated and the sun was popping up over the trees, over 100 showed up. The organizers then invited them all to come down for a closer look.

“We thought we’d put on the best show we could for these folks that came out,” Jonard said. “And they will go back to church or breakfast and post all over Facebook.” 

Among those walking under the balloons was Dave Thurston, a decendent of Samuel and Alic Thurston who brought ballooning to Meadille in the 1800s. He walked with his wife Emily carrying their young daughter, Helen, who kept looking up and pointing at the balloons. He said he is very happy the committee is going to keep the event going.

“Our intent is to keep it going. We are transitioning in some younger people,” said Tim Cooper, the current chair of the committee. He said the hope is to grow their social media presence, thus growing the awareness of the event. He said it is all volunteer effort, but the event costs about $40,000 to put on. They are thankful for the corporate sponsors but are looking for new ways people can contribute.They created a QR code for donations this year and were happy with the results. “A bunch of $10 donations add up. The committee really believes this is a county treasure,” Cooper said emphasizing if the community supports this they take ownership in its success. And that bodes well for its future.

Watts family and friends agree. “This was Ted’s baby,” Miller said. “I think it really great they are going to keep this event going.” ​