It was a double celebration for participants in the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race this evening (October 8), as the teams honored the winners of both the 2010 and 2011 competitions.

The last balloon in the 16^th America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has landed.  David Hempleman-Adams of the UK and Jonathan Mason of Australia (Team 6) are the apparent winners.  They made a safe but fast – 35 knots! -- landing at about 8:30 PM MDT (0230Z) this evening near the Canadian border, about 64 miles northwest of Minot, North Dakota.

The America's Challenge Command Center has received word that Team 4, Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke of Albuquerque, have landed safely 22 miles southeast of Minot, ND.

With the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s America’s Challenge Race for gas balloons entering its 69^th hour, both competitors still flying have beaten the race’s record for time aloft.

The two teams still aloft in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's America's Challenge race for gas balloons have now been in the air more than 62 hours. They may not be aware of it -- and it certainly isn't a priority for them -- but they may be in line to set a new race duration record.

The two teams still aloft in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's America's Challenge race for gas balloons have now been in the air more than 62 hours. They may not be aware of it -- and it certainly isn't a priority for them -- but they may be in line to set a new race duration record.

For almost a day now, the great British adventurer David Hempleman-Adams and Australian co-pilot Jon Mason (Team 6) have been dueling  it out with last year’s America’s Challenge gas balloon race winners Peter Cuneo and Barbara Fricke of Albuquerque (Team 4).  The two balloons passed Andy Cayton and Bill Manuel (Team 5), who landed yesterday, to take the lead overnight.

A really exciting finale to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s America’s Challenge distance race for gas balloons is in the offing, as the two balloons still flying chew up territory on the leaders. 

The gauntlet has been thrown in the 16^th America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  Current leaders Andy Cayton and Bill Manuel (Team 5) have made a safe landing near Kearney, Nebraska, having traveled about 555 miles (893 km).

Three teams are still aloft in the America’s Challenge distance race for gas balloons.  The field was reduced by one when Team 3, Mark Sullivan and Cheri White, landed safely earlier this morning just south of Interstate 70 near the Colorado-Kansas border.

The America's Challenge overnight leaders -- Phil Bryant of the US and Wilhelm Eimers of Germany (Team 1) -- have just reported to the Command Center they have made a safe landing near Cambridge, Nebraska, east of McCook.  This leaves four balloons still aloft in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's distance race for gas-filled (helium and hydrogen) balloons. 

As the second sunrise of the 16^th America’s Challenge race for gas balloons dawns in the Great Plains, it seems just about every team at one time or another has been in the lead.  And the big question now – which teams will have to land at sunrise, and which have the resources left to carry on?

It’s a quiet night in the America’s Challenge Command Center, and judging by some of the conversations being had with the five teams still aloft, it’s quiet aloft too. 

With darkness deepening along the America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race tracks, the Command Center has received reports two additional competitors have landed.  Meanwhile, at the front of the pack, there's a new leader.

The long slow crawl across New Mexico is ending for the leading America’s Challenge teams.  After plodding along with single-digit wind speeds for much of the day, the lead group is moving along at a smokin’ 15-20 miles per hour!

The America's Challenge Command Center has received word that Team 8, Louis Vitanza and Bert Padelt, have landed safely 56 milse northeast of Santa Fe. 

Well, the weather forecasters said the America’s Challenge race would be slow going for gas balloonists trying to go the distance, and they weren’t kidding .   The pace has been excruciatingly tepid for the eight America’s Challenge teams.  When you’re trying to win a distance race, limping along at four miles per hour or less can be frustrating.

As the America’s Challenge gas balloon race moves into its first morning, the competitors are slowly moving north and east across New Mexico.  



On a beautiful, warm Saturday evening in Albuquerque, with glowing hot air balloons and fireworks in the background, the eight competitors in the America’s Challenge headed skywards with the objective of winning the race by flying the longest distance.

The launch of the America's Challenge Gas Balloon race is now scheduled for around 7 PM, possibly 7:30 PM MDT. This will allow some time for convective weather in the direction the balloons will travel to subside and provide better conditions for inflation.

Barring some last-minute change in the weather, the America’s Challenge distance race for gas balloons will launch tonight on schedule at 6:30 pm.

Excitement is building as the scheduled Saturday launch for the 16^th America’s Challenge distance race for gas balloons draws nearer.  Conditions look good for a launch on schedule Saturday evening, October 1, at 6:30 pm MDT (0030Z).  A final determination will be made at a noon briefing tomorrow.

As the America's Challenge race draws nearer, most of the competing teams have arrived in Albuquerque and begun preparations for a scheduled Saturday launch.  Several teams have already filled sandbags and are organizing supplies and equipment.

As the eight America's Challenge gas balloon teams head to Albuquerque to prepare for the scheduled start of the race on Saturday, October 1, they're making a list and checking it twice (just like Santa!) to be sure they don't forget to bring along any "must haves" for the journey. 

Eight balloon teams featuring some of the world’s greatest gas balloonists are preparing to compete in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s 2011 America’s Challenge race for gas balloons, set for launch, weather permitting, on Saturday October 1.