Chasing dreams

As a young boy in Iowa, Dale Dommer knew he was destined to pilot a hot air balloon. Fast forward more than 40 years and Dommer is still participating in Iowa balloon competitions, despite now residing in Texas.

The lifestyle first began when Dommer was growing up in Ottumwa.

“As a young boy in Ottumwa, I saw a balloon one night come floating over my house and it was just one of those things as a young kid where you wonder, what in the world is this thing?” Dommer said. “I got on my bicycle, chased it down the gravel road to my neighbor’s house where it landed, and I watched him pack it away.”

Since then, Dommer has been hooked. As Ottumwa began hosting hot air balloon events, Dommer begged his parents to take him to each one.

“I’d make them take me down to the park and we would get donuts and just sit and watch the balloons, whether they were tethering or night glowing or flying,” Dommer said. “It was all things balloons at that point.”

However, it wasn’t until Dommer hit college that he began to seriously consider getting his pilot’s license. While attending the Universty of Northern Iowa, he recognized the balloons of some local pilots.

“I recognized the balloons and was like, those guys come to Ottumwa! I went out, followed them one night and said ‘hey, I’m from Ottumwa, would you guys be interested in training me?’” Dommer said. “They took a liking to me and said ‘yeah, we’ll train you.’ The rest is history, as they say. The first ride is free, the second one costs you about $30,000.”

Dommer started pilot training in 1991, officially earning his license in 1993. Since then, he’s competed in balloon competitions all over the Midwest, including more than a decade in Creston, winning the competition in 2008 and 2018. Even after moving to Deer Park, Texas, Dommer continued making his way back to Iowa for the myriad of competitions.

Now 52, Dommer said his balloon career is coming to a close. In fact, competing in Creston this year was a happy accident.

“I’m selling my equipment. My brother-in-law, who still lives in Ottumwa, had a conflict this year. He was like, ‘hey, would you be interested in taking my stuff and going and flying?’ Well, sure, I would be happy to do that,” Dommer said. “So we’re making a little swap up on the systems, but as it turns out, I also get to see my former sponsor, which is Dave and Sandy Jennett with the Green Valley Pest Control and Lawn Care.”

Dommer said it has been a few years since he’s made his way back to Creston, so he’s excited to meet up with old friends.

“It’s the people aspect of it that keeps this alive and that people you have so much fun with. We always used to joke, you go to these balloon events and we hang around and we’d drink and we’d party and occasionally we’d have to go fly,” Dommer said. “I’m anxious to get back and chat with [everyone] and see how things are going, see how Creston’s changed and make this my last debut.”

Though Dommer is starting to retire from the balloon world, he encourages anyone interested to try it out.

“Chase those dreams. Never give up on something that you want,” Dommer said. “It’s an expensive hobby, and so many people can’t afford it right away, but just keep chasing that and find somebody to connect with, find somebody that you can crew for, get involved with them. You won’t be sad that you did.”