Meet the “Zebras” Who Help Make The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Fly High

It’s a perfect October morning, and 550 hot-air balloons are making their way across a deep blue sky. Below them, spectators bundled for the morning chill gaze up in awe at the collection of colors drifting overhead. The visitors have risen early to catch the magic of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and their cameras are getting a workout. The city’s annual festival of flight is one of the most photographed events in the U.S.

With the headlines this event receives, many travelers might already know about the dreamlike beauty of Fiesta. But unless you’ve actually been there, you probably don’t know about the Zebras—a team of volunteers who lend their own kind of color to this beloved event.

Meet the Zebras

Meet our “zebra,” Tim Martin, and his crew chief and partner, Noelle Packard, two pros of Albuquerque’s balloon scene. Photo Credit: Gene Vance

Zebras are the launch directors who help each crew lift its balloon softly and safely into the air. They wear striped, black-and-white uniforms—hence their nickname—and they’re super-easy to spot.

“While our main job is to ensure a safe, coordinated launch, we’re also the face of Fiesta,” says Zebra Tim Martin, an attorney who fell for ballooning shortly after moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2008. “We’re out on the field with visitors, so we get asked all kinds of questions—and we like that.”

Martin achieved Zebra status in 2012 after completing a two-year Zebra-in-Training program, but his education didn’t end there. He and his fellow Zebras attend classes each year to refresh and update their skills.

The Tennessee native also holds a balloon pilot’s certificate and has his own balloon, MahNaMahNa, which he flies throughout the year. His crew chief and partner, Noelle Packard, caught the ballooning bug a few years ago. Today she’s a Zebra-in-Training.

“Year one of my training was mostly shadowing,” says the occupational therapist and triathlete. “Next year, I’ll get to launch balloons under the supervision of an experienced Zebra.”

Track a typical day with the Zebras at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival

Children and adults alike will love the balloon launch.

The couple begins their days extra early during Fiesta, meeting with fellow Zebras at 4:30 a.m. for breakfast. Next, it’s on to a weather and safety briefing by the chief launch director, and then to a pilots’ briefing where they pick up additional information. “After that we walk the field to check in with people,” says Martin.

Balloonists and their crews are a social lot. So once the morning’s proceedings have been discussed, the talk often turns to lighter topics—like last night’s dinner or outings planned for later in the day. As the launch nears, Zebras begin coordinating with pilots and crews to monitor their preparations. Balloons must be filled with air (cold first, then hot), stood upright and tested for buoyancy before liftoff can occur.

Once a Zebra determines that a balloon team has met all of the conditions for a safe launch, he or she scans the skies to make sure no other balloons are about to drift over the launch site. When a clear path is assured, the Zebra gives the thumbs-up to clear the pilot for takeoff.

Zebras follow a carefully orchestrated pattern to keep the balloons moving safely and steadily toward launch. The work is demanding, but the rewards are great. “We get the satisfaction of a job well done,” says Packard. “And we get to be part of this great community.”

Between serving on balloon club committees, tailgating after flights and socializing year-round with fellow enthusiasts, the couple has come to see Fiesta as a way of life. “It’s the love of ballooning that unites us all,” says Martin.

Volunteer vacay, anyone?

Views from the ground and the air are uniquely breathtaking.

If you’re more of a doer than a watcher, and you’re intrigued by the tales of Zebras Tim Martin and Noelle Packard, consider volunteering for an hour or two—or more—when you visit the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, which occurs annually in October. Action-packed assignments are available to make your experience even more memorable. To get started, call the Balloon Fiesta volunteer coordinator at 505-821-1000.

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