Scrolling slideshow from the 1999 RE/MAX Cup

The day before the race, crews meet at the sandpile to fill sandbags. The bags will be used as ballast during the flight, and as extra weight during inflation and before liftoff.
Some teams actually measure the weight of each sandbag, to calculate exactly how much ballast they will carry onboard. Here the scale is hanging from the center of the tripod.
Bags are stacked on a pallet for each team, and delivered by forklift to the particular launch grid for that team.
Dave Liniger, chairman of RE/MAX International and one of the competitors, welcomes the teams to Denver during the first pilot/crew briefing.
Gail Liniger draws the team names for launch positions. She drew the lucky 13th position for Dave Liniger and Joe Kittinger.
The first balloon is pulled out onto the launch field. The basket and load ring can be seen in the backround near the trailer.
Two traditional netted balloons were inflated and launched during the race. Here we see the sandbags in position for the "down one diamond" procedure.
Ballast sandbags are at the ready while John Kugler prepares equipment for the launch. The bags will be placed inside the basket and hung from the outside during inflation.
Lou Billones gives the weather briefing just prior to launch.
Launch Director Steve Shupe reviews the rules and procedures for the race.
Balloon pilots and crews gather at the launch briefing.
Jack Edling and Bob Sparks prepare their basket for launch. Spectators were allowed open access to the launch area where they could meet the pilots and ask questions.
Jack and Bob rig the rip panels prior to installing the vent in the top of the balloon.
Bert Padelt checks ballast rigging while Louis Vitanza reviews the flight plan just prior to launch.
James and Henry stand by to assist the pilots. The palloon is well overloaded with ballast at this point to prevent lift.