In 2016, the Balloon Fiesta hosted its fi rst national championship event since 20161973, when the U.S. teams competed for the right to represent America in the Women’s World Hot Air Balloon Championships. More than a dozen of the nation’s leading female pilots vied for the title at the U.S. Women’s Nationals, held separately from the Balloon Fiesta’s regular competition events. The winner was Cheri White, from Texas, who had also fi nished third earlier that year in the Women’s World Championships in Lithuania. Cheri is also a highly respected gas balloon competitor who, with fl ying partner Mark Sullivan, is a two-time America’s Challenge champion. In 2017, in an increasingly digital world, a logical next step for Balloon Fiesta 2017was to grow its electronic footprint. This included providing pilots with updated weather information from a network of Fiesta sessions. European gas balloonists were weather stations, interactive maps showing their especially excited to be able to view the launch of the balloon’s position in relation to restricted landing areas, America’s Challenge live – and what a race it was! and text reminders and safety- Switzerland’s Nicolas Tièche related updates. For the public, and Laurent Sciboz annihilated website upgrades, social media, the competition and the record online ticket purchases, an online books with an astounding 3,771 store, and more enhanced the km (2,276 mi.) fl ight to near guest experience. Labrador City, Quebec. You can The worldwide reach of the read more about Balloon Fiesta Balloon Fiesta grew with the Live! on page 240 — and watch inauguration of Balloon Fiesta past events on the Balloon Fiesta Live!, streamed coverage YouTube channel. via YouTube of all 14 Balloon ® 238 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta