Rapidly Growing Northeastern Team Program to Shoot the Creed Marker for 2010!

Friday, March 5, 2010 – Identity, the quickly growing team program hailing from the Northeast, has reached an agreement to shoot the Vanguard Creed paintball marker for the 2010 competition season and beyond! Identity will use the Creed marker throughout 2010 at events hosted by the various leagues they attend throughout the United States!

Light, fast, accurate, high-tech and packed with features like a high-flow regulator, a Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery, full-color OLED display and USB compatibility, the Creed marker offers everything a serious, competitive paintball player will ever need to be successful inside the net. “The entire Identity organization is honored to be both shooting the Creed and working with the company in 2010 and into the future,” said David Archibald, Director of the Identity organization. Archibald continued “the Creed will give us all the firepower we need to succeed on the field in every division we put a team, in every league or event we attend! We look forward to growing the awareness of this incredible marker and working with the company for years to come!”

Jason Bagshaw, owner of Vanguard, stated “I was honestly a little gobsmacked with his interview in PaintballX3 Magazine and it all made sense. David’s ideas and concepts for paintball sit exactly where they do here at Vanguard. I must say I was very excited in the talks we were having and the possibilities that we could achieve if we were to team up.  So here we are now and after some heart to heart we got a plan together.”

For more information on the Creed, visit the marker’s official website online at www.CreedMarker.com. To learn more about the Identity Paintball organization, as featured in PaintballX3 Magazine’s February 2010 digital issue, the teams and players who are a part of it and the events the team will play in 2010, visit them online at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Identity-Paintball/309057483844.

This is what they’re offering. Their only request is you have to wear their patch on your uniform/jersey. What you get is free admission to open play at the field anytime (scenario’s not included). You just have to pay for the paint. So if you show up with 20 guys wearing the patch every one wearing the patch plays for free (no field fees). Plus the usual 10% discount on markers, hoppers and PSI equipment.

So if any one is interested in getting on the list and having your chance to be picked please contact Barney as soon as possible at finrod13@yahoo.com

Sewell NJ, March 9, 2010 -

Valken is going global! Valken Sports has arrived in Europe and joined forces with The Millennium European Paintball Series (MEPS) as a Platinum sponsor. Along with their Platinum-level sponsorship… package, Valken will also have their own custom field at each of the Series events.Valken President and CEO, Gino Postorivo said “Valken is truly becoming a global paintball force and we look forward to meeting our European customers, establishing new partnerships and making Valken products available in the European marketplace”. “I, along with members of the U.S. Valken team, will be in attendance at each of the Millennium Series events and we are very happy to become a partner with MEPS”, added Postorivo.Valken is seeking 1 major distributor in each respective European marketplace to solidify a foundation for their ever-expanding distribution network. Please send dealer requests to info@valken.com.The 2010 Millennium European Paintball Series venues are; Malaga Spain, Bitburg Germany, London England and Paris France. Teams scheduled for competition will come from as many as 30 countries. For more information on the Millennium European Paintball Series, please visit www.millennium-series.com.Valken Sports is the exclusive distributor for Redemption, Crusade, Fate, Exile, V-Tac, Sly and Worthington branded products. Go to www.valkenpaintball.com for more details.

If you do not know the name Andrew Hollowell you should. He is the main face behind Facefull Magazine’s web presence, and is one of my editors in my short lived writing career to date. This is a gentlemen with his finger on the pulse of paintball, with his love extending to all aspects of the sport. In this interview we cover a lot of information so sit back and enjoy as we pick the mind of a paintball editor, player and fellow enthusiast.

Name: Andrew Hollowell

Age: 22

Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Outside of Philadelphia)

How did you get into paintball?

I had always heard about paintball, seen the kids shooting street signs and on rare showings on TV, but never knew much about it. I first started playing around 2000 while living in Pennsylvania. The family and I moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2001 where I bought my first marker. I grew up near Todd Adamson’s Extreme Rage storefront and field. From there, it was all paintball, all the time. I was completely obsessed from Day 1.

How did you get involved with Facefull Magazine?

I had discovered Facefull Magazine while on my lunch break working for Publix Supermarkets in Fort Myers, Florida. About 6 months later, the family and I had moved back to Pennsylvania living outside a nuclear power plant ala “The Simpsons” and noticed in one of their issues that a page of Alex Lundqvist’s player profile had an error in printing. I emailed Facefull complaining about it, where I was asked what else I thought about the magazine and paintball in general. This was around 2004.

From there, they offered me a job to work for the old website uploading news and gear. They seemed impressed by my fan fare and how much I knew about paintball. My workload increased over time, I was given most of the ghost writing gigs for the magazine (News, Gear, etc.) and the rest is history. By senior year of high school, I was contributing Player Profiles, Corrected Interview, Team Profiles, Features- you name it, I was writing about it before the age of 18. I was meeting all the pro players I had always looked up to as a kid and getting to know what was running through their heads.

Everything evolves- I’ve seen this magazine change over time and I’m proud to have been a part of Facefull’s ever diligent work ethic over the years. There is so much that goes into producing photos, written material and layout in print that many people don’t realize or ever see the behind the scenes scheduling and approach- it’s an around the clock, 40 hour shift of 24/7, 365 days a year. We never sleep- we’re currently considering the option of producing our own line of genetic super-soldiers to grab us coffee.

If you had to give advice to a new player seeking tutelage what would it be?

Never stop learning.  Paintball is still fertile despite these economic times, probably more than ever or to the point of anyone outwardly realizing it. There are answers not being considered which sit dormant on the board. In a sense, many players and the industry itself have stopped learning about the game they love so much and have settled for less, unwilling to fight for progression or adaptation. We follow a curve of stylized outlooks and what we perceive as “security”, never risking enough to make a mistake or to learn from those mistakes. We have been idling in a vehicle with not enough gas or a driver willing to put it in gear. Those times are changing and whether we like it or not, paintball is moving on without us. The “answer” everyone is looking for exists in the minds of those willing to think differently, in society and how we see “space”. If there aren’t enough players to tug on the heartstrings of manufacturers, producers and distributors, we will find ourselves in a dysfunction of our own insecurities. It’s ok to make mistakes, it’s even better to ask questions, no matter how big they might be. New players are the best because they see this game more purely, without regard to the “standards” we all accept. In a sense, they best represent paintball at its core- survival of the fittest in a world of challenges they know little about. My advice for new players would be to learn as much as possible about paintball and realize that if you’ve stopped learning down the line, or feel so comfortable that seeing things in a new light has become impossible, than your journey has only just begun. Stay the underdog, never stop learning, be the student.

What teams, if any, have you played on?

I have only played for a handful of tournament teams- SURGE, IOG Philadelphia, DGB, Capt’n Carl’s X-Ball and Paintball On The Fly’s Factory Team. I am mostly a recreational player these days although I am becoming more and more attracted towards returning to the tournament scene. I’ve got hoop dreams, coach!

What has been you favorite paintball playing experience?

Wow, this is a tough one… as far as playing goes, it would have to be training for the Capt’n Carl’s X-Ball team in the ice and snow over the course of the 2004/2005 winter “off-season”. I have never been so challenged, bruised, cut up or humbled by such an experience in all my life. It was by far the most intense training for any sport or activity I had ever taken part in- arriving early morning, setting up the field and getting killed all day. It was paradise.

What kind of music do you listen too?

Sonic Youth, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, classical, rap, rock and pretty much everything else.

Outside of Facefull what do you do for work?

Facefull and paintball in general has been my one and only job for the past few years. Whether reffing or writing, it’s always been paintball save for Publix and paper routes back in the day.

How can aspiring writers pursue a career in paintball journalism?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Journalism and media have changed… what was once a constant revisionary tactic of dissatisfied writers and trigger happy editors has become more geared towards the rhetorical construction of information. That’s not to say either is better or worse, in fact, each field falls under “journalism”, but the subtle differences between the two places their usage on different ends of the spectrum. Realize that in today’s market, speed is essential as well as mastery of all media arts. Understanding and mastering photos, writing and video, among many other fields such as broadcasting and public speaking become essential. You must be able to completely produce what was once considered “an all month gig” sometimes in less than a lunch hour. The more voices- the better. As far as considering paintball media a career, remember that advertising pays the bills: production will always rely on the obscene fanaticism of writers and the most bang for the buck. The better you connect with the game itself, the people who make this sport what it is and the rich tapestry of history we associate with paintball, the better you’ll be as a fully fledged journalist. Scheduling is key, but above all, play more paintball and learn what makes this game tick. There are so many things you will learn that you’ve never even imagined- by design and commitment. Stay in school, be the student.

What can the industry do as a whole to attract new players?

We must burst the bubble we’ve put around the industry. New technologies that cater to new players and a perfectionist approach towards concepts that keep returning players attracted to the game. They can be one in the same, but as of now, we’ve only reached a very limited level of understanding what’s possible. The potential of paintball is beyond words, as it has the ability to incorporate technologies, friends and raw information like no other sport in history. We need to keep working hard and dare to dream of what our sport can be for all peoples. The most tangible example would be to start producing hi-tech slingshots: precision crafted NERF styled, spring propulsion paintball markers we can use in public parks and backyards. First and foremost, we must bring this game back to the players and push that ideal forward.

Who are the top 3 players in the game and why?

Oliver Lang, Konstatin Fedorov and Tyler Harmon. Without a doubt, Oliver has always been an ambassador to the sport. He talks to fans, signs autographs and gives real advice to those who need it. We’ve watched him grow up for so long as a part of this game, he has been the embodiment of the past 10 years. He knows and lives this game. Konstatin… what can I say that already hasn’t been said? He is a machine, built to sling paint from every area of the field. He is the creation of technical perfection, keen wit and unbelievable natural ability. Between the two ends of the spectrum, Tyler Harmon- the best of both worlds, he knows technical, he knows how to play naturally, he’s always making moves when they need to be made. There is no doubt Harmon has a world of potential in front of him.  He’s amazing, but so down to Earth he won’t even realize how great a player he is until years down the line. That’s Tyler- humble, always willing to learn and turning that experience into ability.

With the changes made in the pro ranks over the off season, there have been whole new lines, who would you pick to be number one at the end of 2010?

Hmmm… Besides the Russians, who are always in the running for the top spot, I would have to say Vicious looks the hungriest. They have an edge I think that will be refreshing to the pro ranks. If they can learn against the curve of the other Pro rosters, they can take that hunger and top the ranks. It’s a long shot, but something I think they might be able to accomplish. In addition, Arsenal (depending on what they choose to do this year) and BLAST top my list.

I would personally like to thank Andrew for taking the time to answer these questions and for giving me a shot with Facefull. It has been a great learning experience under his tutelage and I plan on working with Drew for quite some time in the future.

Paul Forcier

In the aftermath, the German High Command decided to rethink its strategy for waging war against the massive Soviet Army. The Wehrmacht would focus on the Caucasus – a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia – in an attempt to cut the Soviet War Machine off from the rich oil supply there. The Red Army screeched to a halt. In the path of the German advance lay a bustling city on the banks of the Volga River. Stalingrad would become the site of the bloodiest battle in history.

During the early stages of the battle, incessant German air raids reduced Stalingrad to rubble. Unbeknownst to the Wehrmacht, the ruins favored the Soviet defenders by preventing their superior armor from making sufficient progress, and provided excellent cover for the well-trained Soviet snipers. The fighting was intense and close range. Each side fought block by block, building by building, and even room by room.

Just as in Moscow the year before, the Russian winter set in and the Germans found themselves at a familiar disadvantage. By the end of November 1942, the German 6th Army had been completely surrounded in the center of Stalingrad. They were able to hold off the Soviets for two months before finally surrendering at the end of January 1943. The Battle of Stalingrad ended, claiming 1.6 million casualties in its wake, but the strength of the Red Verdict lived on.

Welcome to Stalingrad: Red Verdict, a re-telling of one of the most historic battles during World War II. Will you take the side of the invading German Wehrmacht, hell-bent on extending the reach of the Third Reich throughout Europe, or will you fight alongside your fellow Red Army comrades to defend “Stalin’s City” from the Nazis? You have the power to choose in this epic 2010 inaugural event presented by Mission Masters Scenario Paintball Games.

THE TEAMS:

TEAM RED
THE RED ARMY is a hodgepodge of poorly-trained peasants and battle-hardened veterans of the Eastern Front. There is no discrimination in the Red Army; all able-bodied men and women are pressed into service for the defense of Stalingrad. What the troops lack in discipline and training, they make up for in sheer numbers. They fight savagely and relentlessly. Retreat isn’t in the Soviet vocabulary due to Stalin’s famous “Order No. 227″, which states that any troops retreating without orders will be shot.

SPECIALISTS
SAPPERS:
The Russian “engineers”. They’re primarily responsible for demolition, construction, repairs, and setting up defenses. Often Russian Sappers would commit suicide by running up to German tanks with high explosives. A truly glorious sacrifice for the Motherland.

ANTI-TANK SQUADS:
Armed with American-made M1A1 Bazookas obtained through the Allied Lend-Lease program. They are tasked with taking out the mighty German armor.

MEDICS:
Trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield.

SNIPERS:
Infantry solider who specializes in shooting from concealment and/or longer ranges than regular infantry, often with a specially designed or adapted sniper rifle. Most Soviet snipers carried a combat load of 120 Mosin-Nagant M91/30, Tokarev SVT-40, and later, SVD rifle cartridges in the field. Unlike militaries of other nations, these snipers could be men or women (like their regular infantry). In 1943, there were over 2,000 women functioning in this role.

TEAM WHITE
WEHRMACHT is the backbone of the German ground forces. They are well-trained and well-armed infantry. Most troops have been fighting since the invasion of Russia a year ago in 1941, and have a fair amount of combat experience. The Wehrmacht is used to fighting Blitzkrieg style: move fast, hit hard, all while being supported by vehicles and armor on the ground, and the feared Luftwaffe in the sky.

SPECIALISTS
PIONEERS:
The German “engineers”. They’re primarily responsible for demolition, construction, repairs, and setting up defenses. They are highly skilled at what they do and are vital to keeping the German war machine moving.

PANZERSCHREK SQUADS:
Responsible for carrying out infantry anti-tank duties. They are armed with the feared RPzB 54 Panzerschrek, capable of penetrating over 200mm (about 8 inches) of armor.

MEDICS:
Trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield.

SNIPERS:
Infantry solider who specializes in shooting from concealment and/or longer ranges than regular infantry, often with a specially designed or adapted sniper rifle. Highly accurate professional German Army and Waffen SS sniper units were very effective with their Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles during World War II.

EVENT INFO:
$3,000+ in Prizes & Giveaways will be randomly drawn and awarded following the Mission Paintball Game action;
Many new field improvements, themed props, smoke grenades, launchers, & soundtrack music add to the FUN! Hot food available.

Admission: $35/Person
Paint: Reduced Price $65/Case; EVENT PAINT ONLY
Air/CO2: $10 All Day

PERMITTED: Paint grenades, radios, and semi-auto markers.

PROHIBITED: HOME MADE GRENADES OF ANY KIND, Grenade launchers, Laser sights, Paint other than event paint, Full-Auto or multi-shot burst markers.

SCHEDULE: (RAIN OR SHINE)
Registration begins promptly 8:30 AM with the first game starting at 10:00 AM
Late arrivals will be inserted into the game at the mission following the one in progress.
UPDATE: There are 7 missions with time duration increased from 20 minutes each to 30 minutes each for a net increase of 50 minutes game time. Reinsertion periods are now 10 minutes long.

8:30 AM Registration & Air open
9:00 AM Chronograph Open; Limit 280fps
9:30 AM Rules & Orientation
10:00 AM Game on! (Missions 1 thru 3)
1:00 PM Lunch – Game Pauses
2:00 PM Game Resumes (Missions 4 thru 7)
6:00 PM Prizes, Awards, and Event Ends

VIPP REGISTRATION:
VIPP (Very Important Paintball Player) Pre-register up to Friday a week before the event. Pre-Registrations are being taken by phone at TRP 724-775-6232.
VIPP Register: No waiting in line with walk-on registrants or for taking delivery of pre-purchased paint.
Those who pre-register will receive a personal VIP Envelope containing:
1. Collectible Mission Masters Event Patch (for the first 100 registrants).
2. Color-Coded Event Wrist Band
3. Receipt of Purchases
4. Verification of any Pre-Purchased Field Paint (pick up paint at VIPP Register)
5. Credit for 200 Rounds of Field Paint (pick up paint at VIPP Register)
6. Event Card – Collect three (3) MM Event Cards to qualify for the Grand Prize Drawing – see Grand Prize Drawing details below.

VIPP TEXT:
Receive text reminders on your cell phone for upcoming MM events.
Qualify for FREE stuff prior to event – Lucky winners notified by text message to cell phone.

TEAM & GROUP STAGING:
There is plenty of space for teams to set up their own staging areas and tents, so feel free to bust out your staging equipment and advertise your team.

CAMPING:
TRP grounds are open for FREE primitive camping on Friday and Saturday nights for all MM events.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!
CALL THREE RIVERS PAINTBALL AT 724-775-6232
Walk-ons welcome!

For more about Mission Paintball Games, please visit MISSIONMASTERS.COM and THREE RIVERS PAINTBALL

FREE EVENT PATCH FOR THE FIRST 100 REGISTERED GUESTS

To be incognito is kind of the idea behind what is currently the smallest paintball marker available today. To be able to move about the field without giving away that you are armed, perhaps allowing yourself to get within close proximity of your objective. Be that to eliminate a General or capture a base, this marker is going to interest you with the “cool” factor.

The Goblin Micro_launcher is intended to be used as a short range weapon, or as a back up to your primary paintball marker. The optimal velocity of this marker is within a 15 to 20 foot radius of the muzzle, within this range produces a typical feet per second velocity of 200 – 250.

So how does it work?

With the included cartridges, that look a lot like a shotgun shell, there are a set of orings that hold the charge within the relatively small chamber of the shell. You take one of these cartridges and change it with either CO2 (recommended) or compressed air via a fill nipple that is included with the players kit. Once charged you insert the charged cylinder into the barrel with a single paintball, the idea is to make as tight a fit with your paint to barrel match just like with your standard paintball markers. Next you insert the cartridge/barrel combination into the launcher and prepare to shoot some poor, unsuspecting player. On the Micro-Launcher is a safety mechanism that must be depressed in order to be able to fire the paintball, a nice little safety if I must say so myself. This prevents accidental discharge since there really is not much of a way to add a barrel blocking device to this item. Oh yeah, you can also use this item with the included adapter for airsoft.

Now on to my thoughts…

My initial impression was “wow, this is a really cool looking little marker.” The packaging was well thought out and gives this that eye attracting presence that so many are looking for. In the package you get the Goblin Micro-Launcher, barrel and air assembly, fill adapter, a very nice holster as well as a parts kit and manual. The marker itself is made of a sturdy poly blended product that should last a very long time.

On to the testing phase. I took the air adapter and screwed it onto my Crossfire HP tank as I no longer own a CO2 tank, at least not one that is in hydro or contains any gas. I took the cartridge and aired it up, this was a little tricky at first but within a few fills I was and old pro. So I then took some paint I had leftover from a recent trip to an indoor speedball facility and added a ball to the barrel. I put the barrel and cartridge together, slide both into the marker and opened up the front door. With a press of the safety and a pull of the trigger I blasted my porch railing. Needless to say that railing will not be talking any more smack about my aiming abilities. Geoff was nice enough to include a second cartridge so I was able to fill both and test out the shooting function with a little more shooting and less filling of the cartridges.

I found that the accuracy was great within a twenty foot radius for as small as this marker is, a person with a average size hand would be able to conceal this while on the field with no issues. After shooting the Goblin for a little while I moved onto the airsoft barrel to see if the performance would match. Not being an airsoft player myself I got a little help from my son who owns a few airsoft markers. With a few pellets added to the airsoft barrel the test firing began. With one airsoft pellet per section (there are 4 holes to fill within the barrel) the Goblin shot great! So I bumped it up to four pellets per section of the barrel. While the Goblin still shot great I would find that one or two pellets would get lodged within the same port within the barrel. I would believe this was due to sizing and not an issue with the barrel itself.

I found this to be a fun little marker, keep in mind that this is intended for a specific group or style of player. With the low price and the bang for the buck the Goblin offers I can see this being a big success for Geoff and the people behind this innovative product.

If I had to personally vote on the most innovative product released in 2009 I would have to cast my vote for the Goblin Micro-Launcher. This product is simple in the overall engineering but is something not seen in the popular paintball market.

http://www.goblinpaintball.com/

Paul Forcier

Here’s an interesting 3 man tourney coming up at Carnage Paintball in Georgia.

A Tippmann Only Tournament Series

A Tippmann only event, you heard me right. In a lengthy telephone conversation from his home in Woodstock Georgia, field owner Steven Ledbetter explains that the introduction of a Tippmann only rule provides a desired limitation that addresses the rate of fire issue plaguing some events. As well the idea is solely intended to breath life back into competitive paintball in the region. Furthermore the intention is to provide a tournament series that is specific to woodsball and scenario enthusiasts on more of a level playing field.

$6000 worth of prizes to be awarded AND everyone…. and we do mean everyone will walk away with at least a prize

Pre register today! Make your way to over to Carnage Paintball Supply and sign up quick, space is limited. See below for other means of registering your three man team today!

Matches will be 5 minutes in length, flag pull as well as live players vs dead players will provide the point spread needed to determine a winning team.

Checks or Money Orders can be made payable to Carnage Paintball

Registration forms found on the website can be faxed to  770.693.1837, but understand till we receive payment for faxed in forms your team will not be entered.

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS APRIL 26TH 2010 @ 12 MIDNIGHT

For this and other Carnage Paintball Supply events and paintball please visit

http://www.carnagepaintball.com/

A-Frame rental:
$35 per day
Reserve M-F 10AM-2PM by calling 845-938-8811

Paint: EVENT PAINT ONLY*
• Premium: $55
• Marballizer: $60
*First Strike rounds are an exception to the EPO rule.
Facilities: Free camping, porta-johns, water tanks all on spot

Chrono/firing modes: Chrono will be at 280 FPS, all firing modes allowed

Strictly Prohibited
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Firearms
• Pets
• Fireworks
• Ground Fires
Continue to check www.armypaintball.com for rule, map, and FAQ updates! See you in April!

First and foremost, from my understanding, the Mustang Paintball club at the University of Western Ontario was started back around 2002 by a couple of students who were interested in simply having fun playing paintball in a group with any other interested students. With permission from the University Student Council, these students began putting together paintball outings and general meetings to discuss the sport. The early years of the club saw a bit of disorganization and was relatively small, but grew in popularity over the years. With the right students managing and promoting paintball as a fun, social, group activity, the club became more attractive to students.

I joined the Mustang Paintball club in my first year back in 2006. I had played paintball often back home and was very interested in meeting and making new friends by using paintball as a common interest. The club environment is inhabited by a wide variety of players, from tournament style players, woods ballers, first timers and those who prefer to play just to have a good time. A majority of club members have preferred to play just for fun, and that therefore is our main goal as a club executive team. Several attempts have been made to put together a competitive team to participate in local tournaments at Flagswipe Paintball, however these have been found to be successful for brief amounts of time before players get too busy with school or are financially burdened. Therefore our focus in terms of club funding has been for providing opportunities for the overall majority of the club instead of focusing on strongly supporting only a few players. Attempts over the years to organize a competitive team with the university have not been successful as the other sporting activities seem to be put above others.

We aim to hold a minimum of one event/game per month, alternating between indoor and outdoor venues. We were previously engaged with a variety of outdoor venues such as outer limits, adrenaline, and area 51, however we have now grown accustomed with our friends at Flagswipe who have been great to us over the years. Each game will bring out a different crowd, with some regulars but usually always some new to paintball interested in giving it a try. Apart from painting up the field on a regular basis, we also hold general meetings, such as pizza nights or pub nights, giving members an opportunity to come out and meet other club members interested in paintball. Our goal is not only to just play paintball, but also have a good time and create a great social atmosphere that is usually associated with the sport. There really aren’t too many better ways to make a new friend than by painting up your opponents or each other on the field. From personal experience, I ended up having two roommates throughout several years in school that I met having fun through the paintball club.

Highlights of the year for the Mustang Paintball club include Flagswipe’s big outdoor games, especially “Day of the Dead” every October. It is usually always our highest turn out for the year and is timed perfectly with the beginning of the school year. Although it usually falls on home coming weekend, we always get people out because they know its an awesome day of paintball fun. Outdoor games in general are usually always a highlight as it gives members an opportunity to get out of the city for an afternoon of paintball and socializing whether it be in the fall or at our snow filled winter games. We usually like to try out new types of games too anything that involves a costume or dressing up is usually always great, as well as playing night games.

Our year end indoor tournament is usually always a highlight too because members are given the opportunity to play in a tournament like setting for fun, and we always include great prizes for everyone.

As mentioned before, we do not have a competitive team set up, though it looks promising for the future as more students are joining the club that are interested in tournament style of play. Overall, club members, now with around 150 of them this year, come from a variety of backgrounds, though there tends to be a lot of science and social science students. Our exec this year I believe consists of many backgrounds including visual arts, genetics, psychology, business, engineering, english, and law, which is great cause everyone can bring a unique set of ideas and such to managing and promoting the club.

For me the paintball has always been a great way to bring a group of people together to engage in an unique activity with a common goal. That adrenaline rush when you hit the field with a team or group, anticipating the blow of the ref’s whistle or that first welt or the elimination of that first opponent really gets the blood pumping. Being able to share a moment with a stranger who by the end of the session is probably a new friend is always great. We always have a few members who push the envelope with creativity and really generate some memorable moments. At Day of the Dead a few years ago, a bunch of us dressed up as characters from Alice in Wonderland and had a mock tea party in the middle of the crematorium area.. our opponents were more confused by us then interested in painting us. I remember one guy walking by looking at our white rabbit and red queen and being like WTF? call us unconventional or whatever but by the end of the day we came away with a Tippmann X7 for the costume prize which we have auctioned off in order to support the club. Moments like that or charging across the field as a band of pirates or watching a girl wear nothing but a life guard bathing suit in November firing paint at the opposition, are difficult to find anywhere other than at a Paintball club event. Overall, its the team building social experience of paintball that has kept me playing through four years of university. I started out playing in a small bush behind the house at home with my brothers and a few close friends. it became a tradition every other week or once a month to have a BBQ and have people over for some ball in the bush. planning and building bunkers, cleaning brush and weeds, all the hard work involved in developing an always evolving field, again a group atmosphere experience hard to find anywhere else.

We have yet to do any charity based work with the club, however it is something that we have discussed and look forward to doing in the future. Right now our goal is to maintain our current itinerary for a year to year basis that future exec members can easily maintain and build upon. charity work would be great to include in the future, as well as the development and support of a competitive team. As a recreational/ just for fun player like myself as organizer, I am slightly biased to continuing the paintball atmosphere of a group of people socializing and playing paintball just for fun that I have grown to expect from the sport. I hope that a future president or organizer can build upon the strong foundation that has been developed over the past 4 years by some great, fearless leaders who have been engulfed by the passion of paintball just as much if not more than I have. Perhaps a speedball tournament style leader would be the next best step for Mustang Paintball.

For the rest of our season, which tends to finish up in April when the main school year ends, we plan on hitting up Flagswipe’s 30 Days of Night game at the end of February. From there it will be indoor games at Flagswipe in London finishing off with our Year end ‘fun gun’ tournament and the election of next year’s executive team. We’ll probably throw in a pub night or two for good measure. Its been a great ride after four years. I’ve met some insane people and we’ve all shared some crazy fun moments. I can only hope that this great atmosphere is carried on into the future.

To learn more about the University of Western Ontario Mustangs Paintball Club please visit  http://www.usc.uwo.ca/clubs/paintball/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valken and Underground Productz announce strategic alliance:

Sewell, New Jersey USA – Woodstock, ON. Canada

March 5, 2010 – Underground Productz and Valken Sports are proud to announce that they have reached an exclusive agreement with Valken to distribute their brand of paintball products into the Canadian market place. Paul Counsell, Underground’s Vice President said, “Valken is poised to set new standards within the paintball community and as one of Canada’s largest independent distributors, Underground Productz is looking towards a strong future along with Valken”. “We are truly excited about our new partnership with Valken; with their product lineup, we have become a one-stop-shop for all of our Canadian customers”, added Dale Jorgensen, Underground Productz’ Chief Operating Officer. Valken President and CEO, Gino Postorivo, stated: “We are extremely impressed with Underground Productz’ marketing efforts, distribution capability and excellent rapport within the Canadian paintball community”. “We look forward to getting those customers the most heavily requested and highest quality gear in their hands, as soon as possible”, added Postorivo.

Underground Productz is a full-service, one-stop-shop paintball outlet, centrally located between Detroit MI, Buffalo NY and Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit www.undergroundproductz.com.Valken Sports is the exclusive distributor of V-Tac, Redemption, Crusade, Fate, Exile, Worthington and Sly branded paintball products. See www.valkenpaintball.com for more details or call (866) 812-2760 to locate a Valken dealer near you.