LOVELOCK - Katie Griggs, one of the 21 balloonists at last weekend's Lover's Aloft Balloon Festival, has been a licensed balloon pilot for 27 years, she said. She is also the designer of her balloon, Twisted. When looking at the balloon one can see the quilting pattern.
"I'm a quilter. I love designing quilts, so this was fun," Griggs said.
She has designed multiple balloons and is also a licensed balloon repair station.
Her most recent creation is her "Sushi" balloon, which is a giant female goldfish. She has a volume of over 90,000 cubic feet. Griggs did not bring Sushi with her this trip to Lovelock.
The Twisted balloon is right at 60,000 cubic feet, Griggs said.
Her love of ballooning came years ago when her husband owned a propane business and donated propane for a small event in their home town of Porterville, Calif. Griggs crewed for a local pilot for about six months.
"I said, 'I can do that.' Someone told me about a used balloon for sale. I took my training and the rest is history," she said.
Griggs, supported by her husband Forrest, who is also her crew chief, flies over 30 times a years, she said. Although the Lover's Aloft Balloon Festival is off season for ballooning, Griggs said she loves to come out to the event.
"We are like a big family and it's nice to see each other in a smaller venue because you can actually get to visit with them, whereas in the bigger events there are so many people and balloons you can't really do that. Another thing that makes Lovelock unique is the people who live here. Everyone is so nice and friendly. For a town this small to support an event like this is a testimony to the town," Griggs said.
"We really like coming to Lovelock," she added.
"Ballooning is one of the few hobbies where you can get sponsors to pay for your hobby," Griggs said.
She said that all the events get their own sponsors to pay for the propane, rooms and most of the time meals for the pilots. The balloons burn around 19 to 20 gallons of propane per flight, she said.
"These events are expensive. It's amazing that Lovelock can get the sponsors to support this event. I think it's wonderful," Griggs said.
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