Four Decades of Paintball

[Ironnerd]

The first Paintball game was played on 27 June, 1981 (at least according to Wikipedia... I figure that's close enough)
I figure we should celebrate somehow. Maybe play a game and have a drink or two.


I would play my first game nine years later in the last week of July 1990. I rented crappy goggles that fogged non stop, and a horribly abused Nel-Spot 007. everyone else had Bushmasters, Rebs, and some other nice pumps (with HUGE 7 0z tanks). My marker shat anywhere but straight, I chopped as much paint as I shot, and my team got wiped out. I was the last one left, and as a dozen or so members of the other team walked past my fort, I took my shot.

Someone yelled, "There's one left!" and they all opened up on me. The tiny fort filled with flying paint, and I tried to dodge, but after a few seconds I felt the sting of defeat. During the next game, the field owner broke his ankle, so that ended the day. He gave everyone vouchers so we could come back next week and not have to pay for green fees or our rentals. Since I was going to Korea in two days, I let my buddy KaMaR have my voucher.

It was an AWESOME day, and I was hooked. I had a subscription to APG my first week in Korea, and had my first marker ordered before I came home. Now that I am out of shape and middle aged, I still love this sport.

[Memornix]

Damn, you have me beat by a little less than a year. It is a little foggy but I think my first game was at Outdoor Adventures in MD and everyone was shooting 68 specials. I know we had white fill because the inside of everyone's barrels were a nice shade of white.

Otherwise, June 27th looks to be a Sunday so I think some games are in order.

[Hp_lovecraft]

I remember my first game, it was fall of 87. Before that, I knew of paintball. In was in movies and TV. In particular, I remember renting the movie "Zero Boys" on VHS, and absolutely mesmerized me. (it is on youtube, and the first couple minutes is fabulous).

But, back then, paintball only seemed to be for adults (18+ was a common rule). Plus, fields did not advertise, and nobody locally sold equipment anyway. and.. well, no car, no job, only 13.
It simply seemed unobtainable. Like, race car driver, or pro athlete.

Then, by some weird chance, I ended up in the hospital .Tonsils. While there, I had my mother bring me some paintmags. Paintcheck and APG had just started publication. While reading them in the hospital, I bumped into another patient "Jay Van Houten".... he owned an army navy store, and had his own GOD DANG FIELD. wuuhhhh? We talked forever. His field was 18-only, but he was happy to sell me equipment.

So, begged for enough money to afford a PGP, Uvex, m16 pouch...... and then tricked some schoolmates to do the same. Made our own field, and that was in the fall of 1987. Glorious times. We didn't really know the rules, but kinda followed what they did in movies, mostly mil-sim style. ie arm/leg shots meant you were "wounded". limited paint, etc.

By spring 88, we discovered there was a large commercial field 3 miles from my house. 3 friggen miles. No idea it was there. But this was back when paintball was an underground sport, kinda frowned on by neighbors, etc. So it was 100% word-of-mouth, and if you were not in the "inner circle", you had no idea.

So going to that field "Mainly Action", it was an eye opener. It was more traditional capture the flag and we were way, way outgunned with stock PGPs. I had to ride my bike there and back. hahahaha. Turns out the guy who owne this field used to play at Van Houtens (above), but had a fued over something... and started a rival field just to piss him off. Whatever. So I got a job washing dishes just to afford to play every weekend. Used my money to buy the "best gun that money can buy according to newbs"..... a rapide, decked out. I was an idiot.

Since then I played almost every since untll close to 2000... burnt out by then. All my original fields had long since moved on

[OpusX]

If I could make it out to the field that day (other commitments) I certainly would. I did put it on my calendar to raise a glass with my pgp in the backyard.

[Paintslinger16]

I graduated from HS the weekend before the first game, and was still racing BMX. I probably first heard about Splatball in 86 or so and just couldn’t get enough information to figure out the where and when. There was some sort of local indoor here. In ‘88 someone at work mentioned a field right down from BInL place, I played that weekend renting a KP rifle, and played actively up to 2014.

[Memornix]

I would like to point out that this man said "renting a KP rifle". That's a pretty sweet rental.

[Paintslinger16]

The field was PMI Sheridan based, PGP, was the regular rental upgrade to rifle for a few more. The owner used a SMG, and famously showed up with his home team group after they crushed us.
My initial motivation for going back was most likely just to beat them.

[Pyrate Jim]

I first played the day before Father's day in 1988.
I was curious about a school bus painted in woodland camo, so I followed it one morning to Strategy Plus In E. Hampton, Ct. (Which had opened in 1982, but I was unaware)
I was 29 years old at the time, so I can say I've played in my 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and now in my 60's ~ and still playing.

I'm sure I can find a game (even if it's hours away) to celebrate the anniversary.

[Ironnerd]

Right on! Hope to be playin' in my 60's as well.

[TouchofGrey]

I started playing August 1984. I'm 65 and still playing. Attempting to play till 70. Looking forward to celebrating 4 decades of paintball.

[Pyrate Jim]

I started playing August 1984. I'm 65 and still playing. Attempting to play till 70. Looking forward to celebrating 4 decades of paintball.

Da MoonGod! Glad to see you're still with us.
For those that don't know, TouchofGrey earned the name "moongod" after playing in tennis shoes and a jockstrap. Had nothing to do with "Heavenly Bodies".
(I think he lost a bet)

[Brokeass_baller]

Da MoonGod! Glad to see you're still with us.
For those that don't know, TouchofGrey earned the name "moongod" after playing in tennis shoes and a jockstrap. Had nothing to do with "Heavenly Bodies".
(I think he lost a bet)

That's the greatest thing I've ever heard.

[Ironnerd]

Da MoonGod! Glad to see you're still with us.
For those that don't know, TouchofGrey earned the name "moongod" after playing in tennis shoes and a jockstrap. Had nothing to do with "Heavenly Bodies".
(I think he lost a bet)

What kinda marker did he use?

[TouchofGrey]

I used my Nelspot 007. I don't believe i wore a jockstrap.

[Brokeass_baller]

So just sneakers then?

[Ironnerd]

何なんでー？

That is gloriously messed up.

[Grendel]

Played first time Nov 1988 (weekend of the USC (Gamecocks) vs Clemson (Tigers) game). I just moved down to Charleston, SC from Portsmouth NH to help set up off crew offices for USS James K Polk while she was going out with the Gold Crew for a shakedown run. A couple of Coners I was friends with were already playing outlaw paintball and had found Combat USA/Vanguard Paintball in Columbia, SC and asked if I wanted to go try it out with them. Borrowed a Piranha LB off one of them, rented some goggles and played my first game. I was hooked, bought the paintgun I was borrowing, made and order for a set of JT goggles Whipper Snappers (IIIRC) and a Pursuit Face Mask and my first CA bottle (7oz). The rest was history.

[Shaftski]

Hmmm....That's the weekend of Stockstice at MSG. Have to remember to bring some bourbon for a celebratory toast.

Played for the first time in 1997 at a work outing, Canobie Paintball in NH. We shot tippman prolites. 2 days later I bought a spyder. A year later I played my first tournament shooting an automag RT.