Paintball on the Prairies

A few people have let me know that they are annoyed with my last post about the Projector story. They are annoyed because they have no intention of travelling to Red River College, and therefore, will not be reading the story. To make everyone happy (and because it's a great space-filler), i am posting my story. This is the unedited version, but here you are...

“Going in, I expected it would be top notch,” commented Eric Sochasky, at the September 12th Splatters Paintball Series tournament. “I had such a good time today that I’m definitely playing next year.” Sochasky played with team Riot, and was one of the 16 teams on the field Saturday. The tournament was one of four held at Splatters this summer. There were three levels of competition; the young guns, for newcomers; the rookies, for mid-skill level players; and the novices, for seasoned tournament players. The 420 Army Assassins prevailed in the novice division, and the 420 Army Alpha took rookie. Poondock Saints won the overall series at the novice level, and the Albino Rhinos took the overall series title for rookie. All teams were primarily from Manitoba, but three additional teams travelled from Ontario to participate.

In Manitoba, and Winnipeg specifically, paintball is a lively industry. Every year, roughly 15 teams from Manitoba play competitively throughout North America. On a recreational level, there are numerous fields open for anyone to check out. Giovanni Spina, co-owner of Canadian Paintball.com, encourages everyone interested in paintball to visit his field and experience the fun firsthand. Watching and asking questions are perfect ways to become immersed in the sport, and networking and enthusiasm are necessary to connect with other players in the province. Sochasky, a five-year veteran of paintball, pointed out that seasoned players are always willing to assist those who want to become involved, whether they want to play recreationally or on a tournament level. “The paintball community is so small here,” he stated, “that everyone is willing to lend a hand and help a newbie out.” Local paintball entrepreneurs also work together to promote the sport and sponsor each others events, as it is important for the industry to grow as a whole.

Evan Schroeder, General Manager of Splatters Paintball.com, began construction of his paintball complex in 2000. He created Splatters as a side business in 2003, and it became his full-time profession in 2007. Schroeder began organizing tournaments in 2005. Giovanni Spina began his paintball business in 1999, when he opened a field just outside Winnipeg. The company became an internet business in 2000. By 2004, 5 pro shops had been opened in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Spina coordinates and participates in activities at his field, and commented “I’m dedicated to paintball.” A few of Canadian Paintball’s professional teams have included the Youngbloods, CP Army, and Manitoba Fury. His teams have travelled to Huntington Beach, Disneyland, and throughout Canada. An interesting side note is that team Manitoba Fury is featured in NPPL Championship Paintball 2009, a paintball video game for XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.

“Paintball is a rollercoaster,” Spina stated, and has undergone numerous transformations over the years. As explained by Evan Schroeder, General Manager of Splatters Paintball.com, the sport originated in the seventies and eighties, when it was discovered that Pneumatic Marking Devices­­--commonly used to mark cattle and trees from a distance--easily doubled as a tool for sports play. Participants initially dressed in camouflage, played in wooded areas, and viewed paintball as a recreational activity. This basic, militaristic aspect of the sport was revolutionized in the 20^th century, and Spina explained that “technology did have an impact.”

Markers that could shoot faster were introduced to players, and new hoppers were created to compensate for the increase in speed. Professional teams that competed in organized tournaments emerged, as well as colourful, matching uniforms and sponsorships. Fields were built smaller, roughly half the size of a football field (compared the large 5 to 15 acre expanses used previously). Instead of hiding in the woods, these new fields consisted of maintained grass or Astroturf, and small inflatable bunkers became the only protection from the opposing teams. Strategy and planning, as well as athleticism became core aspects of the game.

Recently, the paintball industry has shifted back to previous recreational and militaristic styles of play. The cost associated with entering a tournament as a professional team was a huge factor, and playing recreationally became cheaper than playing tournament paintball. Despite this recent change, Spina and Schroeder are both confident the industry will continue to grow over the next few years. They both believe paintball will return to the large tournament style popular in the past, and the number of professional teams actively participating will increase. “Technology is not maxed out,” Spina commented, and “there’s still room for development of product and gear.”

An important point to note, Schroeder explained, is that “you don’t have to be physically fit or anything to be good at paintball. Anyone can play.” Paintball is as much a mental game as it is a physical one, and having a good strategy is just as important as being athletic. “You have to be able to see and be able to move,” he commented. “You can be 10 or 60. It’s really anybody’s game.”