Windy weather scrubs Sunday glow
Posted at: 10/04/2009 5:23 PM
| Updated at: 10/05/2009 7:35 AM
By: Valerie Castro, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com
Both Saturday and Sunday's glows were called off due to wind. (File photo)
That wasn't the only event halted by the weather.
The balloon glow was canceled for a second straight night, and this year's America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race won't be happening at all.
Balloonists say it's all part of the game.
Even before the official announcement was made, a flag flapping in the wind said it all.
After a pilot's briefing on the west side of the field, Sunday's balloon glow was canceled because the winds too strong for a safe glow.
The wind also forced officials to completely cancel this year's America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race, something that fellow balloonists say is a shame.
Balloonist Bill Lee said Sunday, "That's got to be discouraging for them, but again if you're a balloonist— hot air or gas— you're going to experience those kinds of things, and its something you learn to live with."
Some people, like Don Sallenbach, visiting from Arizona, took advantage of the wind to pass the time flying kites— not his first choice activity for the night.
"I'd rather have the balloons light up tonight than fly a kite," Sallenbach said.
Balloonist Michael O'Neill didn't have much luck flying his kite after it got wrapped around a flag pole.
Like other balloonists, O'Neill says the windy weather sometimes just can't be helped.
"Its part of flying in Albuquerque," O'Neill said. "It's fall, and we just get wind, and it happens."
"Mother Nature is gonna do what she's gonna do," balloonist Lee said. "Whether we have the wind or not, we'll be out here and, hopefully, get some good days of flying in and some days of competition and look forward to crowds out here and having fun at fiesta."
Toward the end of the night, fireworks still lit up the night sky— perhaps a good omen for Monday's events.
Last year's Balloon Fiesta was pretty much a bust after the weather forced officials to scrap three mass ascensions and three balloon glows.
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