| Backers, breaks and bunkers, oh my! Because of the | | | | capturing their flag. Avoid a direct hit from enemy |
| distinct characteristics of paintball, enthusiasts across | | | | forces and maneuver your way around the battlefield |
| the globe have developed a very unique language that | | | | to victory. All you need is a marker, or paintball gun, |
| you will find only in the extreme sport of paintball. With | | | | plenty of ammunition, safety equipment to avoid |
| the invention of paintball guns in the 1970's as a tool for | | | | serious injury, a battlefield and a good strategy. The |
| marking trees and livestock, this practice opened the | | | | sport of paintball can be as simple or as complex as |
| door for gamers to create one of the most exciting, | | | | you make it. |
| most popular of group extreme sports. Low and | | | | You don't necessarily have to learn the jargon of |
| behold, in 1981, 12 friends got together and played the | | | | paintball to play the sport. You don't even have to |
| first officially recorded game of paintball on a 100-acre | | | | purchase expensive equipment if you don't want to. |
| stretch of field. And they played without the use of | | | | Many places offer rental equipment and although |
| any safety equipment whatsoever! | | | | safety equipment is required, you can rent as many or |
| Today, the concept is the same, but the game is | | | | as few accessories as you wish. The basic paintball |
| played quite differently with the use of advanced | | | | gun is an air compressed or CO2 powered gun and |
| equipment. Tournaments are held throughout the world, | | | | you can upgrade with faster loaders, extra tanks, and |
| with the first professional tournament held in 1983. | | | | an additional guppy (which is a pod to hold your extra |
| Gaining recognition with the formation of the NPPL in | | | | ammo, by the way), depending on the rules of the |
| 1992, the popularity of paintball has made leaps and | | | | game agreed upon between you and your opponent. |
| bounds as an extreme sport with the progress of | | | | There are no particular special skills required to |
| technology in the realm of paintball equipment such as | | | | participate in the game of paintball, only a strategic |
| guns, masks, suits, magazines, paintballs and pods. | | | | mind and the bravery to be pummeled by balls |
| Advancements have been swiftly made in the area of | | | | sometimes sailing at you at speeds in excess of 200 |
| paintball fields as well with the design of various props | | | | mph. Ouch! That's where that good safety equipment |
| and layouts. | | | | really comes in handy. Paintball courses can be found |
| Once the referee yells, "Go, go, go!" to begin the game, | | | | in many places all over the world. There is likely one in |
| the field is transformed into a battleground of strategy | | | | your area that caters to varying levels of play from |
| and warfare. A number of ways to play the game | | | | the beginner to the expert. So, grab a fully and a |
| have been introduced, but the basic concept is to | | | | guppy, hug a dorito, and Go, Go, Go! |
| eliminate the opposing team by "killing" your enemy or | | | | |