Al Nels launched his first hot air balloon at age 11 followed shortly thereafter with a hydrogen balloon.
Those first balloons were made from dry-cleaning bags, the former powered by birthday candles. After
getting his first ride in a hot air balloon while in college, he embraced the sport and earned his
commercial license about a month after that first ride. After a few years of sport ballooning Al entered
competitive ballooning with gusto. Over the years he has won multiple United States Nationals and
World Championships in hot air balloons. He has served as competition director for multiple events and
as the Team Manager for the US Team at several World Championships. Al holds commercial ratings for
balloons ( gas and hot air) and instrument airplane. He is a recent recipient of the Ed Yost Master Pilot
Award and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award reflecting over 50 years of safe ballooning.