Windy weather washes out evening balloon events

windy weather couldn't stop a fireworks show tonight at balloon fiesta park. spectators were trea...  More »

windy weather couldn't stop a fireworks show tonight at balloon fiesta park. spectators were treated to the colorful bursts after organizers cancelled tonight's balloon glow because of weather concerns. and that wasn't the only event halted by the weather. valerie castro is live at balloon fiesta park with more... in tonight's top story. valerie? unfortunately the wind didn't do much good here at the park tonight. the balloon glow was cancelled for a second straight night and this year's america's challenge gas 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 pilots meeting on the west side of the field, sunday's balloon glow was cancelled -- the winds too strong for a safe glow. "we're in for a gusty evening throughout the whole period so i think that's all i have to say at this point." 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. "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 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." michael o'niell didn't have much luck flying his kite -- getting it wrapped around a flag pole. but like other balloonists o'niell says the windy weather sometimes just can't be helped "its part of flying in albuquerque it's fall and we just get wind and it happens." "mother nature is gonna do what she's gonna do, 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." towards the end of the night -- fireworks still light 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 3 mass ascensions and 3 balloon glows.  « Less