 Set!  SKINS Staff / Photos by Bambi Bullard.  Fast reload, never taking his eyes off the field: Justice! Photo by Skirmish.com.  Sliding to safety! Photo by Skirmish.com.  The power move downfield! Photo by Skirmish.com.  Very tight, ready to strike. Shock. Photo by Skirmish.com.  Very together! Photo by Skirmish.com. |
Paintball's tournament scene changes and grows each year. For 2006, as we head into mid-year, titles are very much still up for grabs. Here's a look at competition paintball!
VSS, the Velocity Summer Series, heads into its fourth year as Southern California's largest series for new players who have fallen in love with the sport of paintball and would like to take it to the next level. Velocity Paintball is dedicated to providing a safe and economical tournament series for beginning players. This series is not for players who have already played sanctioned tournament paintball. In 2005, VSS hosted more than 75 teams with more than 450 players. Some went on to the XPSL or the NPPL, such as Velocity Wrecking Crew, Kolohe, Evil Saints, Turbulence of Velocity, and Bunker Dragons. VSS, phone 877.283.2720; www.velocitypaintballpark.com.
Heads up! The IAO (International Amateur Open) announced this summer it is "going retro" in its 16th year. The Three Rivers Paintball Festival will celebrate with a BlackCat scenario game and a 5player airball rookie/novice tournament, back where the IAO started, Three Rivers Paintball in Cranberry, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. By popular demand, back to its roots the IAO goes, to where it was started in 1991. For 11 years, Three Rivers hosted the IAO. In recent years it moved to the Butler County Fairgrounds nearby. On July 27-30, head for the festival! www.trpaintball.com
In a hard-fought battle, the Harvard College Republicans beat the Democrats in a paintball match early this year. The match, played at Boston Paintball, included players with zero experience to those with their own high-tech gear. As a social event, the match grew out of friendly challenges between roommates, one a Republican and the other a Dem. As reported in the Harvard Crimson paper, the Republicans were excited that they had a "war" the Democrats supported and the Dems' goal was to be like "President Bush's WMDs": silent, deadly, and hard to find. Final score: Republicans won 12 matches and there were two draws, giving the Republicans 293 out of a possible 362 points. Sponsors for the $3,400 event included funds from each player, and a donation from a high-tech marketing firm, Spidersplat. ("Partisans Clash in Paintball War," by Natalie I. Sherman, The Harvard Crimson, 2/3/06, www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=511023)
The Texas Roughnecks paintball team, with some 75 members, is now sponsored by USMilitary Gear.com. The team attends six to eight scenario games a year. At the BlackHawk Down scenario game at Tactical Paintball in Harwood, TX, January 14, 2005, the team received the Most Valuable Team award and its member, MudRat, received the Most Notorious Enemy Player award for barrel tapping the opposing general twice. Look for the Texas Roughnecks at Oklahoma D-Day this summer! www.usmilitary gear.com
The Midwest Madness, a Midwest Paintball Series sanctioned event, gave participation points toward the series title. Look for a DVD from the 2006 Midwest Madness event of April 1-2. $20 per DVD includes shipping and handling. http://paintballtourney.com. Midwest Paintball Series events continue, with June 3-4 at Drop Zone Extreme Sports in Lawrence, KS (www.dropzone paintball.com); Aug. 19-20 JC Paintball in Junction City, KS, phone 785.238.8354; Sept. 16-17, Tornado Alley Paintball in El Dorado, KS (www.tornadoalleypaintball.com); Oct. 14-15, Battlesplat in Iola, KS (www.bat tlesplat.com). www.midwestpaintballseries.com
XO Industries is sponsoring the New England Hurricanes for 2006. The team will be shooting XO Menace and XO Vein this year. Jeff Stein of the Hurricanes said in a press release, "We were extremely happy with the performance of XO's paint last year and look forward to the continuation of our relationship with them for years to come." XO Industries' Gino Perrone added, "We are proud of the achievements of the Hurricanes in 2005 and are excited to be a part of the future of the team." www.xoindustries.ca, www.nehurricanes.tv
Smart Parts will sponsor the Manchester, U.K.-based team, the Kellys, for 2006-07. The Kellys will shoot the Shocker and Freak Barrel System powered by the Max-Flo Micro 4500 preset air system, and they will wear the new competition clothing line from Smart Parts. Philip Webb, European affairs director for Smart Parts Inc., said in a press release, "The Kellys are a family-oriented team with a fantastic lineup-some of the most aggressive players in the U.K. They have a fantastic following in northern England. And their loyalty is second to none."
ASIA The Selangor State Tourism Action Council and Skirmish Paintball Asia will host the Asian Cup 2006 Paintball Tournament, June 10-11, 2006, at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Divisions: Open, Pro-Am, Amateur, Novice. The event is organized by the Selangor State Tourism Action Council and Skirmish Paintball Asia Sdn Bhd. Contact: Skirmish Paintball Asia Sdn Bhd, Selangor, Malaysia, phone +(603) 7722.5629; fax +(603)7722.1435; info@skirmishpaintballasia.com; www.skirmishpaintballasia.com; www.raskalmalaysia.com/forum.
The Paintball Asia League Series (PALS) will have 2006 events in Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia. PALS is in the new UPF. Asia Refs, associated with Euro Refs (European Marshalling Body), will referee the Asia events. Additional countries expected to enter teams include Brunei, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
ACTS Check for the June Sun Fun Festival Coastal Classic at Myrtle Beach, SC, with a cash game and a 2/2 SKINS format with Juniors ages 10-17 on Saturday and the open event on Sunday; www.coastalpaintball.com. June 24 ACTS is at Command Decisions Paintball, Taylorsville, NC; (828) 495-4155; www.cdpaintball .com. July 22 ACTS, Master Blasters Paintball, Chesapeake, VA; (757) 548-2481; www.masterblasters paintball .com. August 19 ACTS goes to Predator Paintball, Hillsborough, NC; (919) 732-6327; www.predatorpaintball.org. In September, play the Beach Bookie and BBQ Festival at Coastal Paintball & Myrtle Beach, SC, for a cash game, 2/2 ISAS SKINS format and rental play; www.coastalpaintball.com. The Sept. 28 location is TBA. Look for a fall Beach Blast Scenario Game at Coastal Paintball and the City of Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department. For details and location, visit www.coastalpaintball.com.
Warped Sportz Warped SportzKC entered into a strategic partnership with KC Water Sports to open a new paintball park in Kansas City. Some 40 acres will have speedball fields, with additional land for scenario games in the future plans. KC Water Sports' Mike Olson will host rec-ball games, tournaments, instructional clinics, and overall family fun. The facility also hosts wakeboarding on a developed wake lake that includes jumps. Visit www.warpedsportz.com.
New Zealand The New Zealand Paintball League (NZPL) is a BYOP (bring your own paint) series that plays by Millennium Series rules. Expand your adventures this season with a tournament in a different country, but remember, always check laws and airline regulations before crossing any border with your paintball gear. Info on the NZPL: japanpaintballsup plies@gmail.com.
Challenges to paintball in New Zealand include barriers to the use of compressed gas or air cylinders pending NZ government approval. For information about cylinders in NZ, contact MacDev, phone from the U.S. 011.612.9.531.5055.
GPL The GPL was on TV earlier this year, showing 3player competition from 2005. In one episode, the Inside Paintball team was outfitted at the Redz Factory, Shawn showed Tony the basics of tournament play, and they competed in the GPL at Del Hobbies in New Jersey. Other shows featured 5player GPL action. The Outdoor Channel and Inside Paintball brought the GPL to TV.
June Team Tip Is your team loaded with talented players, yet can't make the playoffs? Your job as captain or coach is to recruit, train, and then inspire your players, which you can't do if they're not happy with their position, equipment, or other team things. Don't lose good talent because you didn't talk to your players. Talk privately and talk in team meetings. Do not cut a good player suddenly, just because his or her performance isn't top-notch, because the rest of the team will get jittery and not play as well. Give every player a good, solid opportunity to improve. Remember, some players learn faster than others.
SIPPL The 2006 SIPPL Series has moved to the 3player format, with six events held on Sundays this season. Going back to its roots with 3player, SIPPL focuses on sportsmanship and fun. Season referees are Hpnotiq. Events were set one a month starting in April and going through September. Series prizes for D1 include a 5player SupAir field for first in 5player, and a 3player SupAir field for first in 3player. Awards include a Redz prize package for sportsmanship, and medals. Contact Brett or Sara Gilliam at www.sipp.info.
Tip of the Month Always get a set of the rules, and go over them carefully, before playing a tournament. Know the points value of a flag pull, a flag hang, and eliminations. Know the chrono speed. Look for any unusual twist to the rules so your team is well informed.
