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"Extremely dangerous": Balloonists from Tegernsee criticize the Montgolfiade plan

2021-01-18T04:38:08.113Z


Because of the pandemic, the Montgolfiade at Tegernsee is not due to take place until April this year. The local balloonists only have to shake their heads. And there is also other criticism for the planning.


Because of the pandemic, the Montgolfiade at Tegernsee is not due to take place until April this year.

The local balloonists only have to shake their heads.

And there is also other criticism for the planning.

  • The Montgolfiade 2021 should not take place until April due to Corona

  • The local balloonists Unger and Götschl consider the time to be "dangerous"

  • In other ways, too, they strongly criticize the TTT as an organizer

Kreuth

- hot air balloon pro Michael Unger and his designated successor at Ballooning Tegernsee in Kreuth, Andi Götschl, agree that a Montgolfiade at the end of April - as it is currently planned at Tegernsee - is a very bad idea.

“This is a highly thermal time in the Alps.

You have to be in the air by 6:30 or 7 a.m. and back on the ground by 9 a.m.

Otherwise it is extremely dangerous and irresponsible ”, both explain unanimously.

Here you can find the pictures of the anniversary Montgolfiade 2020

Ballooning in the Alpine region is demanding.

Experienced alpine balloonists would know that the wind in spring pushes balloons back into the valley and into the mountains from early morning.

"TTT event manager Peter Rie and this year's start manager probably didn't think about that," complains Unger, who co-founded the Montgolfiade Tegernsee in 2000 and was the start manager of the balloon meeting until 2018 before he ceded the task to the German Free Balloon Sport Association.

Unger and Götschl fear for the good reputation of the balloonists in the Oberland

Unger and Götschl fear for the good reputation of ballooning in the Oberland: “Not only is the launch site in Bad Wiessee unsuitable at the end of April, it will also be difficult at the landing sites on the farmers' meadows,” Unger is convinced.

If the ground was frozen, even 20 balloons would not cause any damage when landing.

“But around Georgi you simply can't go - let alone drive - into the meadows with a trailer.

On the one hand, they are soft, and on the other hand, the first and most important mowing is due in May, ”says Götschl and emphasizes how hard the local ballooners have been trying for decades to gain the goodwill of the farmers concerned.

Landowners rely on the organizers' common sense

Hans Hacklinger, district chairman of the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV) confirms this when asked.

That is precisely why he is looking forward to the Montgolfiade in April: “Our balloonists are on the road all year round, and that has worked well so far without any major annoyance.” He assumes “that the organizers will take care of our meadows and otherwise go to the farmers and compensate them, ”explains the district chairman.

Hacklinger: "I'm counting on the organizers' reason."

Read here: Ten years of the Bräustüberl balloon: "We came up with a lot of crazy ideas"

Christian Kausch, managing director of TTT, assures that one will proceed with care: "The rules given by the respective property owner will be observed accordingly." The starting places would be distributed over the entire Tegernsee valley.

This is also part of the hygiene concept so that there are no mass gatherings of balloon pilots, passengers, their relatives and spectators.

"As with all events, we only do what is possible according to the hygiene rules that are valid at the time," says Kausch.

In case of doubt, the TTT program items will be canceled or the Montgolfiade will be canceled entirely.

You don't want to take any risks.

Strong criticism: TTT appears as a competitor to the local balloon company

TTT has been advertising and marketing passenger rides during the Montgolfiade from April 17 to 25, 2021 since the time before Christmas - even before the balloonists were invited and passenger seats were secured. Such a ride should cost 259 euros.

Although it no longer does this - as was the case with the anniversary Montgolfiade 2020 - under the note “exclusive”, it also does not indicate that there are other local providers.

Andi Götschl from Ballooning Tegernsee thinks it is “hard” that a local company that advertises with the slogan “#MIAZAM” competes directly with local companies.

Unger says: “Amazon, Jochen Schweizer and Co. at least don't pretend to be 'miazam'.

If the TTT competes with Ballooning Tegernsee, I will just take up this competition. ”Meanwhile, TTT boss Kausch sees no contradiction to the Miazam campaign:“ In fact, you can never guarantee a balloon ride.

But the ability to plan passenger journeys is a very important part of the event, ”he explains.

If a trip does not take place, the guest can get their money back.

It is also usually offered to catch up on the trip with a local provider at a later point in time.

As far as the Ballooning Tegernsee company from Kreuth is concerned, Kausch says: "Said local supplier always has space for his balloons at the Montgolfiade and is also repeatedly advertised by us outside of the event, not least through the Tegernsee balloon."

The supporting program is canceled this year due to the corona

Especially through the Montgolfiade, the Tegernsee valley is traditionally presented as a beautiful balloon region nationwide, from which local providers would benefit, says the TTT boss in the direction of Unger, who has been involved in the Montgolfiade in its professional core as a hot air balloon meeting and offer for 18 years has set up and organized - beyond the framework program with market, concerts and mascot meetings.

All of this will be canceled in 2021 due to corona anyway.

ak

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-01-18

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