Every year, balloonists from all over the world flock to Velikiye Luki for what is the biggest hot-air ballooning competition in Russia. The first balloonists took to the skies in the Pskov district in 1996, and this year 48 teams from 7 countries have arrived to take part in the championship. We’re going to take a closer look at what’s involved in a ballooning competition, and tell you what it’s like to go up in the air for the first time.