America's Challenge

The America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race was founded by the Balloon Fiesta in 1995 due to the vision and efforts of Mark Sullivan, former Balloon Fiesta President and recipient of the Montgolfier Diplome (one of ballooning's highest honors), who saw the need for America to be identified with the world's most prestigious ballooning sport.

The America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race is modeled after the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, but  it differs from the older event in allowing balloons from all countries, without limits on the number of entries from each.   The team that travels the longest distance wins.

1995 was the first year of the America’s Challenge, and has been held in Albuquerque every year since.

Archive of Race Results (PDFs)

• 1995 - 1st Americas Challenge
• 1996 - 2nd Americas Challenge
• 1997 - 3rd Americas Challenge
• 1998 - 4th Americas Challenge
• 2000 - 5th Americas Challenge
• 2001 - 6th Americas Challenge
• 2002 - 7th Americas Challenge
• 2003 - 8th Americas Challenge
• 2004 - 9th Americas Challenge
• 2005 - 10th Americas Challenge
• 2006 - 11th Americas Challenge
• 2007 - 12th Americas Challenge
• 2008 - 13th Americas Challenge