Albuquerque, NM – Balloonists arrived early in the morning for the first day of briefing Competition to hear if they would be able to launch from outside the field and head back into the field to compete. The Competition that was to launch at 7 a.m. was cancelled because of high winds. About an hour later the winds lessened allowing the flags to change from yellow to green for balloons on launch from the field. The launch off the field filled the sky with bountiful colors.
Zebras were busy directing the balloons on the field to launch. Zebras are people dressed in black and white striped shirts to officiate as launch directors. Zebras keep an orderly launch of the balloons as they set for lift off at 7 a.m. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has over 3000 dedicated volunteers that put long hours in daily to make the Fiesta a number one event that multi-thousands of spectators attend. Chase crews are an essential group of volunteers that help the pilots inflate, launch, land and deflate for each flight.