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 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

Top 3 Paintball Movies

Paintball is everywhere in daily culture, especially films. Here are some cool paintball movies that show a world where paintball rules.

1.Paintball: This flick is about 8 paintball pros who pay for an extreme competition. What they aren’t expecting is that the people who they are playing against are not using paintball supplies. An extreme action movie that conjures Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” this is a must see for paint ball fans.

2. Court Jesters: A Paintball Movie. This film is based on a true story about a directionless young man who gets involved with paintball. His mission is to become the best, after living through the worst.

3. Unknown Soldiers isn’t a full length feature film, but it is one of the most viewed movies about paint ball. This documentary follows a group of Division 5 paint ball players who go straight into the National Paint Ball League after never having played before together. They attempt to play as a team to become the best paint ball players they can be. Here’s the first half of the doc:

Hope you like these vids, and if you have any other recommendations, feel free to post them.

Paintball Supplies Are A Great Way To Improve Your Game

Paintball is super safe. The only necessary paintball supplies you need are goggles. Don't play without them because if you do, and are hit in the eye, you can go blind. That is why along with your paintball marker, goggles are the only other piece of equipment the game requires. It’s important to have goggles that are comfortable and well-fitting and don’t fog up.

Style is secondary. You may want a more intimidating look, which can be achieved by covering your entire head with a tactical helmet. This can be complemented with other paintball supplies and paintball accessories. Colors and crazy styles also convey a more intimidating appearance and will make your opponents quiver in their boots. Jerseys and gloves can also add to this. Once you feel like your paintball accessories are coming together, you can look at add-ons for your gun.

A rifled barrel can help your gun look cooler, but you also want to look at paintball accessories that make your gun lighter and shoot faster. Scopes are a great idea, as are muzzle brakes and silencers. The best thing about paint ball is that there’s always room for improvement, and new paintball supplies can help to step your game up.

Build Your Own Paint Ball Field!

If you love paintball, then you probably have your own paint ball guns and you probably go to paint ball fields. But if you already have a bunch of friends with their own paintball guns, and some paintball supplies, you don’t have to pay extra to go to a paint ball field, you can build your own.

Not only is this cheaper, but it also allows you to learn the space you’ve constructed and add to it for more and more adventure. To get started, all you need is a big field, or maybe even some woods, which at least one of your paint ball loving friends should have in their backyard. Depending on how heavily wooded your field is, you can improvise with more flat pieces of wood, or even by digging ditches and foxholes. Using rocks and trees you can provide shelter and build barricades and if you want you can buy some dirt and create mounds that you can hide behind. And if you have any other ideas as to how to improve your field, get creative!

If you need any other paintball supplies just go to www.ChoicePaintballGuns.com. They have all your paint ball needs.

A Beginner's Guide to Paintball

Paintball is a growing sport and a lot of people are trying it for the first time. But as my grandpa says, it’s all fun and games till someone loses an eye! With that said, it’s important you know what you’re doing.

• While we’re on the subject of losing eyes, the first rule is to never EVER take your mask off unless you’re in a designated area. Paintball guns are pretty powerful, so unless you’d be into wearing an eye patch for the rest of your life, keep the mask on.

• Make sure you understand your paintball gun and its operations and limitations. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if you’re unsure.

• Wear darker clothes. White is bright and makes you an easier target, especially if there are sniper paintball guns in use.

• As far as shoes go, wear some type of boots or hiking/running shoes. Some people even wear Soccer or Football cleats for better traction.

• Keep your eyes open and look around. A lot of players get hit because they aren’t looking sideways or are too focused on one area. Look around, people could be anywhere.

• Don’t stay a spot for too long. Don’t be afraid to run out uncovered. Run, hide, attack and remember to look around. This may take a while to train yourself to do, because it’s our nature to focus on one thing, but you’ll get better the more you play.

• Never give up! Whether you run out of paintball supplies or energy, you’re still useful to the game.

Remember to check out ChoicePaintballGuns.com for great deals on paintball supplies.