News and events
09-07-2008
Results for the 2008 Great Reno Balloon Race Organizers are thankful for another great year (RENO, Nev.) – The 2008 Great Reno Balloon Race... more
09-02-2008
Prepare to Attend The Great Reno Balloon Race Spectator tips to ensure a great time this weekend (RENO, Nev.)- Organizers of The Great Reno Bal... more
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Competition & Results
Have you ever wondered how to race a hot air balloon? It's not a sport that brings to mind great speed. In fact, since a balloon is carried by the wind, it moves at whatever speed the wind decides, wherever the wind direction goes.
But there is a skill to “racing” a balloon. The talented pilots at The Great Reno Balloon Race use wind currents and elevation to control the direction they travel. As pilots ascend or descend into a sea of wind currents that exist in the atmosphere, the balloon takes on different directions. Each morning, pilots are briefed about wind speeds and directions at various “ceilings” or elevation measurements. The pilots use this information along with the forecasted weather changes and the local terrain as navigational tools. Skill and consistency are the keys to a victory and a piece of the $20,000 prize purse. As you watch the competitions described below, observe how the pilots carefully shift their altitude, seeking directional wind currents. When it comes to "Balloon Racing" there is much more than meets the eye!
Hare & Hound: Hunting Balloon-Style
Modeled after the English sport of freeing a rabbit, giving it a head-start and then unleashing a pack of canines to hunt it down, the balloon sport is considerably less dire for the hare. Having two balloons act as the hares is wonderfully representative of how different the two similarly-named sports are. In this instance, the hounds are the 100 or so balloons and the hares are two balloons sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.
Balloon Blackjack
Part of the Reno experience is the thrill of winning big on a Megabucks slot machine or on the green felt of a blackjack table. Gaming continues to be the area’s number-one industry , so we’ve implemented a Balloon Blackjack Tournament to get casino-style action airborne during the event. It met popular success in 1999 for both the pilots and sponsors. The prizes awarded last year included complimentary weekends and meals at many of the area’s best casinos.
This tournament is open to all registered pilots and takes place directly after Mass Ascension on Saturday and Sunday. Pilots are given two extra beanbags to throw at several giant 4-foot playing cards. The Blackjack competition, played like the real card game, offers additional excitement for the balloonists and pure enjoyment for the spectators.
So, stay around and enjoy one of the Balloon Race’s best features. It is sure to be a successful event once again this year... you can bet on it.
Fly in Task - Judge Declared Goal
This event is relatively new to The Great Reno Balloon Race. The officials (judges) of the Great Reno Balloon Race pick a target based on the prevailing winds and expected winds in the area that will require the pilot to fly their balloon, with the use of navigation skills, to drop a marker or other means of scoring at the specified targets. The target is selected prior to the pilots' briefing each morning. The target is anything from an “X” to whatever the officials decide each day.
Fly in Task - Calculated Rate of Approach Task
This task brings pilots back to the field in a specified amount of time. Officials will place a target somewhere on the field and pilots will work their way back, racing the clock, to reach the target before the specified amount of time is over.
Fly in Task - Maximum/Minimum Distance Double Drop
While the pilots are flying out for Mass Ascension, two targets will be set up for the Maximum Distance Double Drop and the Minimum. Pilots will return to the field (still in the sky) and attempt to throw a marker at each target. For the Minimum Distance Double Drop, they will want their markers to be as close as possible. For the Maximum Distance Double Drop, they will want their markers to be as far away from each as possible.
2008 Race Results listed below
Hare & Hound Overall
Hare & Hound Friday
Hare & Hound Saturday
Hare & Hound Sunday
On Field Overall
On Field Saturday - Maximum Distance Double Drop
On Field Sunday - Judge Declared Goal
On Field Sunday - Fly In
Black Jack Overall
2007 Race Results listed below
Hare & Hound Overall
(Please note that 3rd place is William Baker and 4th place is Tim Brown)
Hare & Hound Friday
Hare & Hound Saturday
Hare & Hound Sunday
On Field Overall
On Field Friday
On Field Saturday
On Field Sunday
Black Jack Friday
Black Jack Saturday
Black Jack Sunday
The mission of the Great Reno Balloon Race is to provide a premier, safe, family-oriented/tourist-attractive, visually dramatic event that celebrates the joy of flight while remaining free to the public.
