I am the primary author on this site. As a travel and Hot Air Balloon Competition enthusiast, I look forward to sharing this experience with those who couldn't be present. I will be attending as a member of Team Heatwave.

My experience in competition ballooning is listed below:

• 22 years of crewing (10 where I consider myself useful)

• Chief of Measuring Teams -> 2024-2026 U.S. Women's National Championship

• Measuring Team Lead -> 2023 U.S. Women's National Championship

• Measuring Team -> 2022 U.S. Open National Championship

• Assistant Competition Director -> 2025 Balloons Over Wadsworth

• Scoring Officer -> 2026 Balloons Over Wadsworth, 2025 Canton HOF Balloonfest

• WatchMeFly Certified Scorer

I was born into ballooning. My Father, Jeff Pestun, was an avid competition balloon pilot and staff member at a variety of events. He taught me everything I know.

Outside of ballooning, I am an avid traveler, downhill skier, and hockey player. I am located in Southeast Michigan, where I am a full-time engineer at Brazeway, an aluminum extrusion and HVACR components supplier. 

I started training for certificate at 14 and obtained my private certificate in 2018 at age 18. I absolutely love the competition side of flying and have done that more regularly since 2022 or so. 

At 26, this will be my first international event and my first world championship. I am also a graphic designer for Cameron Balloons U.S. in Dexter, MI. 

Landon's wife and awesome crew chief. She has crewed for every event, doing pibal readings and/or operating windsondes. She will be in the chase truck doing pibal readings at every other target leap frogging the lead crew.