A hot-air balloon maneuver in which the basket skims across the ground is called a drag landing.
During a drag landing, the pilot reduces the balloon’s lift and allows the basket to touch the surface while the envelope continues moving forward. The basket may then slide or bounce briefly before the balloon comes to rest.
Drag landings can be useful when wind makes a perfectly stationary touchdown difficult. Skilled pilots choose a suitable landing area, reduce speed where possible and coordinate with the ground crew, who may help secure the balloon after contact.
The maneuver is not the same as a normal soft landing. It is a controlled technique associated with moving air and is especially important when the balloon cannot hover or brake like an aircraft with engines.