From NH Cow Branders to Worldwide Competitions, Splat! You’re a Running Paintball Canvas

Ready, aim, fire! Your best friend hits the ground, as you start laughing. What a great shot! That’s right, America’s new favorite pastime is shooting one another. Paintball is quickly gaining popularity. Paintball is no longer the game you once knew. At one time, paintball was for those crazies who liked to run around the woods with expensive machines that shot not so harmful bullets. Recently, in places like San Diego, paintball has been taking on a whole new meaning. This past weekend, five artificial-turf paintball fields were laid out in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot. The National Professional Paintball League Hosted a two day long tournament, known as the 2004 N.P.P.L. Super 7 Commander’s Cup. 175 seven member teams competed to be the paintball rulers of the world. Chuck Hendsch, president of the National Professional Paintball League, estimated that the players, who came from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe shot around seven million paintballs during the two day contest. Also at the tournament were dozens of gear makers, camera crews, and between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators. Last year, nearly ten million people in the US played paintball, and some two million currently participate in it across the world. In the US, there are currently 2,500 paintball sites. According to sporting-goods trade group SGMA International, paintball equipment sales were close to $4 million in 2003, more than double the sales of the past five years. Hendsch would one day like to see paintballing made into an Olympic sport. Tony Thomas, from Austin, Texas, has been an avid paintballer for over 15 years. Before the tournament, he said he has tried to give up the sport many times, but felt that “life wasn’t the same without it.” In a tournament style game, the object is to shoot down as many opponents as possible in a given time, while players try to advance to closer barriers in order to get a better shooting position on their opponents. Strategy and teamwork are key, and often teams decide to sacrifice some players for the advancement of others. While the sport is male dominated, many women find enjoyment in it too. In the San Francisco tournament, a female group called the Femmes Fatales came all the way from Fort Meyers, Florida to compete. Interestingly, New Hampshire is credited with starting the paintball trend. It was played in 1981 by a dozen men, and a Sports Illustrated reporter who made the game famous. Originally, the men were using the paintball guns to mark their cows. For anyone interesting in trying this sport, there are a few fields located in New Hampshire. Jester’s Paintball Field in Kingston is open during the day on Saturday and Sunday. They do rent and sell equipment, although they recommend you bring your own. You can buy a season pass, as well as practice with your team if you call ahead. Adventure Games Paintball Park located in Weare is also open on the weekend, and charges $15 for walk ins and rentals. Children are allowed, although they must be accompanied by an adult. Becoming a paintball expert isn’t easy or cheap. According to the New York Times, guns range from $200 to $1,500. Players must also wear protective masks. If you would like to enter a contest like the one in San Francisco, you’ll be looking at entry fees of nearly $2,000. Most likely, this is to discourage recreational and younger players. Paintball.com has some recommendations on what to wear. Most important, they say, are sneakers with traction and ankle support that won’t hurt your feet. New shoes are not a good idea, as they have not been broken in, and will get dirty quickly. They suggest sport designed socks, and gloves. Some serious players cut the tip off the trigger finger for a better grip. Wearing a hat to keep paint out of your hair as well as protection from the sun is a wise idea. This is important, especially in hot weather, when it’s easy to get overheated while wearing a mask. Wear camouflage or dark colors, and wear multiple light layers instead of a few heavy ones. This will reduce the impact of the paintball, which can hurt or leave bruises. They stress the importance of keeping all skin covered. The site also offers a few tips for beginners. The most important thing to remember is not to move. Even if an opponent can’t see you, they can often detect movement, and consequently know an enemy is close. Yes, it’s reminiscent of the military, but its safer, fun, and you get to go home at the end of the day. There is also an area on the site where players write in safety tips. One recommends checking your safety goggles often, to be sure they aren’t dirty or cracked. Most goggle manufacturers recommend replacing the lenses every six months anyway, even if they are in good condition. Another player reminds readers that the gun, or marker, is always loaded, and that most accidents happen because people forget this. It is also important to be sure you are shooting at less than three hundred feet per second. Paintball is not for the weak. Even with the shooting power below the recommendation, never shoot someone in the face or upper chest. Being shot at from any distance can hurt, so try to avoid shooting someone at close range. Paintball is a great way to enjoy friends and the weather, as well as get some exercise. It can be great fun, provided you take it seriously. Many people play for fun in woods or fields around their house, although this could get you into trouble, especially if you find out too late you’ve been marking up private property. This weekend, instead of hitting the bars, gather your crew and make walking paint splat canvases out of your friends.