Helium shortage deflates balloon race

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Compete in the America's Challenge balloon race and you could have a long flight ahead of you.

Since 1995, competitors have started in Albuquerque with one balloon filled with helium or hydrogen and ended up as far away as Maine, Florida or even Canada. No refills allowed.

That one-way ticket has a cost.

"Helium was pretty abundant and reasonably inexpensive," said Mark Sullivan, the race's founder. "Until just recently you could fill a helium balloon for about $3,500."

Until 2005 helium was the only gas used to compete. As the price of helium climbed, more and more hydrogen balloons started competing as well. This year though, helium is both rare and expensive.

"Well, if you could get it this year, it would cost you about $15,000," Sullivan said.

That high cost means only hydrogen balloons will be racing this year.

The good news is hydrogen gas is significantly less expensive. The bad news is that most racers here don't have balloons that can safely use that fuel.

That's leading to a big drop in America's Challenge participation. In 2002, there were 14 teams competing. This year, there are only five.

Because hydrogen balloons are far more popular in Europe, two of the five teams are from across the Atlantic including a pair of pilots from Russia.

Sullivan says the race was caught off-guard by the extraordinarily high helium prices. Next year he expects a bounce back in participation.

" I think what's going to happen is there's a manufacturer in the U.S. making hydrogen balloons now," Sullivan said. "People will import hydrogen balloons, and if that's the game, that's what they'll fly."

The 17th America's Challenge race is scheduled to launch Saturday Oct. 6, weather permitting, from Balloon Fiesta Park.

Last year's winners were David Hempleman-Adams of the United Kingdom and Jonathan Mason of Australia. The pair touched down in North Dakota close to the U.S.-Canada border nearly 1,000 miles and 72 hours from the launch site.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 14.