D-Day: Preparing for the World's Biggest Paintball Tournament

The world's largest paintball event takes place over a week in June in Oklahoma at D-Day Adventure Park where 3,500 - 4,000 players gather to re-enact the Battle of Normandy.

Safety paintball supplies like goggles are required for all those on the playing field. However, there is plenty of opportunity for spectators to witness your sniper paintball guns marksmanship in action, and are invited to watch and camp for free. Players can expect to use around a case of paint during the tournament, though should also bring a back-up case to make sure not to run out of paintball supplies.

Units can pre-register, or register as an individual and be assigned to a German or Allied team. Allied teams are further broken up into Commonwealth teams (British and Canadian), German, and French.

Ice and water is available throughout the playing area, although the organizers highly recommend bringing canteens and camelback water carriers.

Night vision goggles are allowed for evening and night tournament play. No full auto or burst settings are allowed on paintball guns however, so perfect your single-shot and sniper techniques!

2010 D-Day highlights will include a 91st Birthday party for author and four-time combat jump veteran Jake McNiece as well as USO Show.

Bide Your Time to Success

During my last paintball encounter I devastated my opponents. We play at a field with barrels, blockades and sniper towers hidden in between the crooks of tree branches. My five friends and I play three on three. I have paintball supplies that include a paint ball gun that shoots 15 shots per second, and a sniper scope. I put the latter to use frequently during that game.

My buddies ran in circles trying to capture the flag, while I, stationed high above in the quietude of an oak, like a darkling thrush biding its time before winter comes, waited. The first shot of mine landed right on the mask of my best friend, who I was playing against. It surprised him so that his paint ball gun shot out a few rounds when it hit.

My next victim was lurking close to our flag, and in fact, was playing quite well. But I, waiting like a master, allowed him to think that he actually had a chance. He crept closer and closer to our flag, and just as he was making his final approach, I snagged him right on the chest. Stunned, he screamed in pain and anger.

I knew it was time. With just one player left, I easily made the approach and won the game for my team. No problem.

The Top 3 American Paintball Fields

Playing paintball is a blast, no matter where you play. But like your paintball gun, where you play can make a difference in your game.

The best place in the country to play is in Skirmish USA in Albrightsville, PA. This place has all kinds of different fields ranging from a western battlefield, to an airfield with airplanes, oil derricks, and towers, to castles with ramparts, towers and 15 foot walls. They also have a fake city called Tippman City, with 27 buildings perfect for hiding and sniping. The Metal Lands are filled with steel boxes that provide some of the field’s best sound effects. With over 700 acres, you will be sure to find a field that intrigues you.

Old River Paintball is in Florida, and has 12 different fields. They also have an air station to refill your paint ball gun tanks. With a variety of games, like Speedball, Airball and Hyperball, they keep the fun coming.

Third is Advanced Alabama Adventures. AAA has been around for more than 20 years, and is willing to change the course to suit your desires. Personalized paint ball has never been so easy.

These three are some of the country’s best, but if you can’t get to any of them, it’s easy to find a good field in your neck of the woods.

The Origins of Paintball

Above: The Nel-Spot, the first paintball gun.
In 1976, a stock trader by the name of Bob Gurnsey and his writer friend Charles Gaines, the man who documented a series of photos called “Pumping Iron,” (yes, that Pumping Iron) were discussing Gaines’ recent trip to Africa where he hunted buffalo. To simulate the adrenaline rush of the hunt, and in talking about Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, the duo invented a game whereby they would hunt each other.

In 1981 in New Hampshire, using Nel-spot 007 pistols for paintball guns, which are typically used by hunters and farmers to mark boundaries, the pair and ten friends played a capture the flag type game.
Early paintball was quite different from today’s game. Shooting was rare, as the CO2 tanks were only 10 grams. Without masks, shop glasses were used, and the original paintball guns at most held 10 rounds, which had to be tilted to roll into the chamber, and recocked after each shot.

After the game, Gurnsey began talks with Nel-spot to license specific paintball supplies. In the following years, national interest surges as competing companies began making equipment, and the way was paved for modern paintball. By 1984, paintball had become international. The rest is history.

Play Speedball with Competition Paintball Guns

If you’re an avid paintballer, chances are that you’re always looking for ways to enhance your game and new ways to stomp the competition. If you haven’t started playing speedball, or competitive paintball, you should! It’s an incredible, adrenaline filled game that is a bit more challenging, than just going out and playing with friends.

If you aren’t familiar, paintball has two different types of games: woodsball and speedball. Speedball is when the field is composed of inflatable bunkers, of the same location and number on each side of the field. This way, the field is an even playing ground for both teams.

Speedball teams can typically consist of 3, 5, 7 or 10 players. The paintball markers are different as well.
Speedball markers are designed with high rates of fire. They are the guns used by professionals who compete because they can seamlessly put out multiple shots per second.

So whether you’re already a big speedball player, or just want a paintball marker that is tournament worthy, you should look into competition paintball guns at Choicepaintball.com

Intimidate the Competition with Save Phace Paintball Masks

There are three crucial elements to winning big in paintball: the right paintball guns, a plan of attack, and an intimidating paintball mask.

The last one may seem like a matter of opinion, but think about it: If you already have to have your face covered and protected, why not up your game and make your mask intimidating to the opposition?
In terms of quality construction, artful design, and intimidating graphics, Save Phace Paintball Masks are the top-of-the-line.

Save Phace masks feature airbrushed artwork for the fiercest and most intimidating look on the course. The name says it all with Save Phace. These high-quality masks are ANSI and ASTM rated and approved for optimal safety. In addition, you don’t have to worry about sizes with Save Phace because one size fits all, they are incredibly simple to clean and maintain, and can be put on in two seconds.

These are some serious masks: the lenses feature military grade anti-fog, anti-scratch UV coating that’s retained despite heavy water exposure or thorough cleaning. If you have your own intimidating mask design in mind, be sure to consult choicepaintballguns.com for a custom order in which you can put any graphic or image your heart desires.

How to Maintain Your Paintball Gun

Paintball rifles and guns can be pretty pricey pieces of machinery, depending on the level you play at, and the most important thing you can do to maintain the quality of your investment is to keep your paintball gun working as good as it did when you first got it. Here are a few tips to help your guns working like new.

1)    Clean your paintball gun fully after every game, as dirt and grime from the course can easily get on and in your barrel. If a paintball bursts in your barrel you’ll want to unscrew it fully and get everything out. Dry paint lumps in your barrel are no good for a game.

2)    Make sure that you oil the hammer of your paintball marker after every game. The hammer is crucial to the overall performance of your gun because it pushes the paintball down the barrel at such a high speed.

3)    If you play on a wet day, it can be beneficial to store your guns upright. This will allow any moisture that’s inside rise out of the gun. Since guns are primarily metal, you want to minimize moisture that could cause your gun to rust after extended exposure.