Playing back for the Bad Hueys and yelling my favorite phrase "You Are SO GONE" to someone who has just been painted by my Autococker
I have been playing paintball since before paintball was ever really considered a mainstream sport. I have played almost constantly from 1995 - 2002 and "off and on" since then. Paintball is a very safe and fun sport that can appeal to almost everyone. Thankfully, many in our society have gotten off of their high horse and realized that although paintball has always been a war game of sorts, it has never been about violence. Although competitive paintball is no longer played in the woods (non-woods play is safer and easier for referees to keep fair), there are still many woods-type paintball games played every weekend. Although I am far better at non-woods play and like it better, I still enjoy playing in wooded areas free of armadillo holes (which have always been a g great way to break an ankle when running full speed through the woods).
My last tournament - the 2002 Amateur Open
I have played on a number of competitive teams in the past and played in events like Skyball, the Zap International Amateur Open (which has undergone name changes over the years), the Chicago NPPL Open (now the PSP), The NPPL World Cup, and The Wasaga Beach Blitz. These are in addition to countless local tournaments. I am, however, no longer an active competitor. Competitive paintball is extremely expensive and simply too time consuming for a person in my line of work. I prefer to simply show up for walk-on weekend play or to local "fun tournaments" for the purpose of having a good time. And I still use today some of the same equipment I was known to use back in the late 90's.
Back when it was the Zap Amateur Open and when speedball fields were made from construction waste
Paintball is also an equipment-intensive sport and it is surprising to most people that, more often than not, I still play with an Autococker that was made in the year 2000. Unlike most guns used today, it is not electronic. I don't even have one of the new "hinge" triggers on it! It is simply a standard, center feed, slide trigger Autococker with modifications by Smart Parts and Wildside Paintball. I use the same JT mask that I have used for years (new lens every year), same style paintball pants, same jersey I had when I played with a team called "Redline" (made by a company that no longer exists), and normal football cleats for shoes. I use the same kind of packs they were using back in 2002 - mine is made by Smart Parts. The only new item is my hopper, which is a modified Odyssey HALO-B loaded with custom parts and a custom shell. I beefed mine up because this is a part that is known to break and, when it comes to broken paintball parts, I have no patience. I do own a 2003 Shocker, which I bring when playing with a group that requires extra attention, or on occasion, an attitude adjustment. I normally use it as a "loaner gun" for friends.