Former figure skating gold medalist spreads joy one balloon at a time
There’s not much Veronica Champion can’t make out of balloons. Over the past 35 years running her mainly one-woman business, Balloons by Design, she’s done it all, from making ice cream cones for San Rafael-based Silbermann’s Ice Cream to the Golden Gate Bridge to potted flowers and palm trees to spiders, seahorses and other colorful creatures.
Champion, a United States figure skating gold medalist who taught the sport for 10 years before getting into the balloon business, uses her eye for design and color that she developed during her time in the skating world in her creations she puts together from her San Rafael home. At 81 years old, she has no plans on stopping anytime soon.
Q What inspired your career change?
A I was living in Los Angeles and the man I was married to was in a horrible accident. This lawyer sent me a hot air balloon and a bottle of champagne and I thought that was the neatest present. I went to a balloon company in Redondo Beach and asked for a job. I didn’t get hired, but I said, wow, I want to do this. When I moved up here, I got a job working at a balloon company. I especially loved delivering them because it made people so happy.
Q What made you start your own business?
A My daughter inspired me. I was working at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club as a bartender and the manager of the club was getting married, so I said I’d like to decorate the reception and he said yes. That was my first job. I found my career that I love.
Q What’s kept you doing this for more than 30 years?
A I love the creativity. It’s never the same and it brings a lot of joy and happiness to people. I once brought balloons to a man in his 80s and he said, “It’s just not a party without balloons,” and I thought, “I’m going to use that one.”
Q How has figure skating helped your career?
A My mother made all my costumes and I went with her to pick out colors. She helped me coordinate all the colors and styles, so I have had an eye for color ever since I was a young. I think people are sometimes afraid of using colors, but to me, it makes it so much more interesting and fun.
Q When did you start figure skating?
A When I was 9 years old. I never wanted to get off the ice. My neighbor’s daughter skated and she told me of the ice skating teacher they had and introduced me to her. She was the best mentor of my life. I went to Canada with her for the summer to skate at a summer school and a teacher who was a North American champion. It was really fun, it was a great childhood, every morning I would be at the ice at 6 a.m. in the morning before school.
Q What were the differences in careers?
A I have been to a lot of balloon conventions, and everyone was so willing to share what they knew about balloons. I learned so much. I thought this is so much different than skating, because they were so competitive and jealous.
Q What’s your signature design?
A That I love color, so I get everything color coordinated in my bouquets or decorating. I like to make it splashy and beautiful. I think it’s really important, the colors you use.