WA- Raising the bar.

[FishyBits]

Hiya to all of ya's in the paintballing world! ^^

I've come to treasure each and every moment that I spend playing this lucrative sport. And to be quite frank, we love it to bits. And we've become quite serious about taking our paintballing experience to a new level.

It wasn't long before the wonders of YouTube caught our attention with videos, capturing the glamour and glory of those masked teams in thier team uniforms and matching hopper hoppers. We wanted in, we wanted in bad, to place our names along side those who proudly stepped on to the field.

However thats when the dream ended. How do we start? Where do we begin? We're just regulars, a bunch of local kids who make it a thing to fling globs of paint at each other every month or so. The big question is, can us local kids of WA make pro?

Seeing the AXL right here in my very own backyard of Perth(metaphorically speaking) drove the passion even further. There are some issues and concerns that we couldn't find answers too and we hope to find wisdom from those who have gone ahead.

Is there more incentive to win other than just bragging rights? Prizes that could offset the inarguably costly start for a emerging team?
These questions eventually led to more serious ones, is there a large enough player base in Western Australia to support more than just the quiet once-in-a-while competition? Can we raise paintballing to the same level of community awareness and acceptance like sports such as hokey, netball and AFL which are commonly televised, attracting fans and even... sponsorship?

Any pointers or help would be greatly appreciated!
-Hopeful Team Captain, Fishy =P

[bubba]

I would suggest head down and checkout out the Super7s next weekend in Serpentine :thumbsup:

[Pompous Frog]

I'll answer some of those questions.

Can paintball have as much awareness as those major sports? No way in hell. Paintball is an extreme sport, just like skating snowboarding and all that. Except that it can't be nearly as popular as those extreme sports. In America where tournament paintball is considerably larger then it is here, their events have thousands of spectators and alot of competitors and corporate sponsorship. However those spectators are part of paintball somehow, either they play or know people who play. The sponsorship comes from the paintball industry. Sure there are a bunch of pro's that get paid to play. But they only get paid by paintball companies. Events such as the PSP/NxL and NPPL do not attract many spectators who are not somewhat in the know. The only reason for a large amount of spectators is because of the population in the US, so there are that many more people who are in the know.
It is like that here, just alot smaller. The only people who come to watch paintball are either players not competing, or friends - family - girlfriends of the players. When/if Australian paintball ever gets as big as it is in America then it will still be the same, just that there are more friends and girlfriends to watch.
However, you never know if the CEO of a giant popular company might suddenly play competitive paintball and throw money at it. But that is a random variable that is very unlikely to happen.

Is there more incentive to win other then bragging rights? Not really. %95 of Australian paintballers do not get anything from playing other then the enjoyment of it. %5 through in industry sponsorship are able to break even. Well, probably more like %2.
In Australian competitive paintball the only reason to play is for the enjoyent and competition.

So far that's a pretty bleak picture I've drawn for you. But it's something all of us come to realise, so why not know it now. But don't despair.

The reason people play for the enjoyment and competition is because the enjoyment is the best there is. The competition is intense, spastic and so absolutely satisfying when you win.

Can local kids make pro? I'm still a local kid. And I made pro years ago. I've been traveling interstate to compete at the pro level since i was in high school. There's a new bunch of kids on the block as well, who are a couple of years younger then me. They've already showed alot of teams that they can walk the walk. If you've got the comitment and the drive you can achieve goals you want.

And yes, there is a large enough player base in WA for a competitive circuit. We have one. There is a state tournament series that holds four events a year, with championship points and the finale - for the past two years - being held at the extreme sports even Gravity Game h2O. Here in WA you have some very expirienced players who have been playing the game for over a decade. They can teach you how to look at the field, how to read games. They've been there and they know how it all goes down.
There are also young, athletic, straight up killers. Guys who are now faster, more agressive, and more focused then has been seen in a long time.
There's hope for you, we've got dads running around smashing teenagers off the field. We've got young guys stepping it up and taking trophies away from people that have been doing this for a very long time. Paintball in WA is a very young thing, hell in Australia it's still feeling its way. Sure there are devisions, dickheads, con artists and you don't get paid like a rockstar when you make it to the top.
But when you're out on the field, smashing a team you've never beaten before. When you just pulled off an awesome move and the crowd is cheering your name. When you get shot off the break and you scream your lungs out in despair and anger, you feel like a ####ing rockstar. No #### that, rockstar's jobs suck compared to how you feel on the field. Rockstars don't ####ing matter, because you're out there in the zone doing the most important thing in the world, right in that moment nothing else matters.

If you want some help with anything, pm me with specific question and I'll help you out.

[turkish1]

well stated froggy...:respekt:

[FishyBits]

Thanks froggy for such a prompt response! It has comfirmed the quiet fears I've had at the back of my mind.

For me personally working harder at a part time job is nothing compared to the thrill and exhillaration when I;m on the field. I am willing to throw my self at this and not look back. However I'm not so sure if others following my dream are willing to dedicate what little resources we have.

The starting price for basic gear alone is staggering, and renting soon adds up. From a pros experience is it difficult to maintain paintballing in monatory terms? Travelling around, paint cost (WASP Canningvale charges $40 for 300rounds O.o for casual play.)

I know my questions sound like their comming from a guy who's tighter with his wallet than a dead cat's arse (haha) but its an obsticle for the rest of my team; some of whom are unemployed.

Uni life tends to have its drains on us :p

[Pompous Frog]

From my perspective money is no problem. That doesn't mean I always have enough, or am living in luxury. It means that I do what I can to play. I don't go out on the piss each weekend. I don't buy video games. I drive a very average car because I'd rather that money go to something I see as important. This is not the same with everyone though, people have families and other passions.

Playing casualy while involves no investment (not buying your own gear) is more expensive by ratio. Cases of paint cost, to competitive players, usualy around $70-$80 a box. That's 2000 paintballs. Many fields, WASP - Xtreme Leisure, have specific nights for competitive training. These will involve the price of paint as I mentioned, as well as I believe they also do hire out equipment if you don't have any. So you could buy half a box of paint $40 (1000 paintballs), pay the field fee $10 and I'm not sure how much the gear is to hire out....plus there are lots of expirienced people at these nights that you can talk to. Ask advice from, talk to the guys behind the counter about getting gear. There is entry level gear that is quite cheaper then the top level stuff.
If you're intrigued about tournament ball, then get into the middle of it. Rock up to when they have training days. WASP generaly on a wednesday arvo-evening, and I think Xtreme Malaga are thursdays. As it's winter I personaly will be training at Xtreme more as it's indoor. I'm not sure if that's the general idea with everyone, as WASP is the hang out for most of us.

There are also entry level events, I know the Xtreme have been running a league which is designed for new players. It's quite cheap I believe.

As for following a dream while others might not want to. Don't let other people old you back, there are lots of amateur teams that support new players. You'll meet people with your same skill level that you might play with. Then you might form a team with those guys or what ever. I've played or six or seven different teams in the last three or so years.

There is quite alot of choice in how much you play and pay. You can say, buy all the gear you need - sure you won't be the coolest looking dude on the block, but that really doesn't matter - and play the small cheap amatuer leagues, training against expirienced players every now and then. And maybe play in one of the state tournaments a year.
You don't have to come out, super committed. You can slowly come out, testing the waters, getting comfortable to it all. As long as you're playing you will develope and understand it all more.

[Rambo@war]

whow too much writing

[FishyBits]

Ooh... indoors paintball.. in WA? Wow!

Well... I guess the only thing left to do is to actually talk to someone down there :p Once again, thank you very much for helping me out. It means a lot to have someone pointing in the right direction.
This uni holidays seems very promising; setting the right example for my friends and trail-blazing. Its a long road...haha, maybe I'll see you around *wink*

Cheers!

[morph]

yeh im with you rambo!!!!:twisted: :twisted:

fishybits come down say hi and meet up with all the people that are training at extreme on thurs nights about 7/8pm , everyone is friendly and helpful to any one that wants to join the sport and needs some help to get started:armed:

[ghostrider]

Is what froggy means is that paintball is good.

[jonkers]

The sponsorship comes from the paintball industry. Sure there are a bunch of pro's that get paid to play. But they only get paid by paintball companies. Events such as the PSP/NxL and NPPL do not attract many spectators who are not somewhat in the know.

There are starting to be non related sponsors coming on board in the U.S there are not many but its got to start somewhere.

Dynasty is sponsored by Intel and rockstar energy drinks. I think if these guys stick around then it will only be a matter of time before more join the bandwagon.