Sunday, September 27, 2009

THORB sponsor Red Sevens!!!

Its official! THORB will be sponsoring Singapore's first competitive paintball team, Red Sevens with their high quality sports apparel.

THORB which is specially designed and developed by parent company Sports360 provides quality sporting apparel to local sports fraternity such as the national dragonboat team and the national junior hockey team.

Red Sevens is proud to be affiliated to THORB in promoting its line of sporting apparels.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

A night for GUITAR ZEROESSSS!!!!

Intense... Red, Red, Blue, Blue, GREENNNNNNNNNNN
Lester and the noob...or is it?
Macham like real only...
Junk food...
The future hero...
Cheaters!!!
Well...no comments.
TAU POK!!!
Muscleman...

A crazy night of Guitar Heroes for the paintball community... courtesy of Sham and Mayor. We were able to enjoy a night of good strumming, drumming and certainly laughing... So here's to the paintball guitar zeroes who were there. And we all know which who is the worst player! Been a while since everyone get together... Happy Birthday Chai Hock and Gerald!

For those who were not there...this is what you missed.

Special mention to a few others who popped by... Ian, Judas, Ben's bro, Ben Junior, Paul and wife...

Paintballers World Paintballers Gathering!!!

There is an unofficial gathering for Singapore paintballers today, 26 Sept 09 from 6.30 pm onwards at Paintballers World. If you would like to come by to hang around, talk paintball, meet paintballers... you are invited! Sucky food will be prepared... but only limited portion. Drinks are available too.

We are located at www.paintballersworld.com

*Nick announced that he will be performing a dance tomorrow...

More photos of the gathering later today!!!


Oakland Blast paintball clinic in Singapore!!!


Red Dynasty will be organizing a paintball clinic conducted by Ken Tsuda from USPL team Oakland Blast. This clinic will be held just one week ahead of SPNS Leg 3 on 11 Oct 2009. Time of the clinic will be announced nearer to date.

Ken is the team manager and one of the key coaching staff of Oakland Blast and he has been instrumental in their performance in this season's USPL. With years of playing and coaching experience, Ken will be keen to share his field tips and strategies with our local community.

Oakland Blast is currently ranked 2nd placing in the USPL Pro Division ahead of teams such as Dynasty, XSV, Infamous...

Recommended for all SPNS participants and BTO-ed players.

WHAT A BLAST!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Paintball Extravaganza Photo Story


Paintball Extravaganza 2009, a tradeshow for paintball business owner is officially over. This 3 day tradeshow saw the participation of many people from the industry. Views were shared and visions were paved... met a few paintball icons too. Took the opportunity to get some certification too.

Tippmann Tech Certification
Dye NT Tech Course with Billy Wing, Ironmen
Planet Eclipse Tech Certification
Tippmann TPX
Rusty Glaze conducting "Paintball store and makeover"
Rich Telford from XSV and Mike Paxson from Ironmen
Mikko from Ironmen

Monday, September 14, 2009

Singapore Paintball Novice Series 2009 (18 October 2009) - Preview



The early bird registration for SPNS Leg 3 has just ended with 9 early registered teams. Kudos to all teams who have submitted their registration, those who have not done so, fred not, you have until 4 Oct 2009 (2 more weeks). With the SPNS barely a month away, teams will be training and getting their mechanics and strategies right on the field.

From now till 4 Oct, I am hoping to see 3 more registering teams, making the final 12. The last series of the the tournament will see teams competing in West Coast Park. While some might have doubts (e.g. location, accessibility, crowd, etc) over the decision of organizing the event in WCP, we believe that it is the best location which we can afford since the intervention of SPNS in 2008. Pasir Ris Park was good, this one will be better... well, at least McDonalds is only a footstep away. So no more hungry stomach before the games.

New to the series are 2 new participating teams: 1) Black Aces and 2) Beserkers: Sons of Odin. While both teams are new to the series, they are not new to the game of paintball. Led by Blackhawk and Jit respectively, both teams have some experiences with paintball one way or another.

Calling out to teams who have not registered to do so quickly... let's make this last tournament of the year a big bang!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

How is it affecting Singapore paintball?

Foods for thought... recently, there has been a calling for a unified federation for paintball in Malaysia. Basically, it is a recognized federation with sole purpose of promoting and developing paintball in Malaysia. This federation will be recognized by the National Sports Council and eventually a mainstream sports in Malaysia which youths can participate the sport in school and continue to play the game when they are into their adulthood while participating in what we call "THE" recognized national competition...

When it comes to deciding who should run this unified federation, everyone has their own personal view. BUT, personally, I think the answer is pretty clear. The federation should be run by the people who has brought Malaysia paintball to where it is today. To be honest, I am really happy for all Malaysian paintballers and paintball in Malaysia. With the recognition of paintball as a mainstream sport across the region, I am hoping that Singapore governing authorities can cut the red tape for our local paintballers to participate this sport in accordance to how it is done internationally, in this case, 1) paintball marker possession similar to a sporting equipment 2) declassification of paintball marker from the firearms act.

Last year, there was a tournament that was organized by a Malaysian organization known as the MPA (details of the tournament, Flora Festival), to be really honest, it is one of the most glamourous event that I have ever attended, there were 4 professional teams, there were hovercrafts shooting confetit in the air during the opening ceremony, there was a band playing music during the teams march pass, there was a stadium that was cater for this event. The food that was served throughout tournament days is free (seafood dinner, BBQ dinner, buffet breakfast, etc), the accomodation was free, the travel expenses (ferry and bus tickets) were free, we were playing with new JT bunkers covered by new professional paintball nettings and even the paintballs were free (we were given 5 boxes of paintballs). All we need to do is to show up for the event! What a good deal for any paintball team!!! The only thing about this tournament was that no one knew who the organizing committee was. I mean of course, we had to ask around... but the only reply that we got was "Its the MPA". I mean what more can I ask for when the event is 100% totally free! So we didnt really pursue it...

Please dont get me wrong, I am not saying that this event is not good or anything but in fact, it is one of the most organized tournament that I have ever attended. The organization of the event was fantastic, we even have a liaison leader who will cater to any of our queries, and show us around the place...

I was told that this organization apply for some government grant and was given loads of money to organize this event. I am not surprised given that the Malaysia government and the state government are fully behind this sport. But honestly, that was also the last time that I have heard from the MPA. Rumours had it that its a one off event...

With the recent "hoohaa" about a National Federation for paintball in Malaysia, one of the main focus will surely be the fundings and recognition from government. Surely, I would like to see the people who are driving paintball to get this funding because it is what they deserved for putting in the effort to plan, organize, develop and promote the sports in Malaysia. But I would also like to see that this funding is put into good use in driving for a common regional body who can not only promote paintball in Malaysia but also be a driving force for paintball in Asia. Some suggestions perhaps:

1) Statistics research - Research are important. Its the basis of putting everything that is wrong to right. A good research for paintball can cover areas such as statistics research for paintball safety. Not only will this research be used by paintball association or bodies across the region to develop paintball in their respective countries. But most importantly, it is backed by a registered, recongized and reputable paintball body that can be recognized by the local government.

2) Coaching aids - While majority of the paintballers I know learnt their skills from a fellow paintballer or watching videos on the internet. A structure paintball coaching aid is need to ensure that the fundamentals of paintball coaching is recognized. Yes, it takes a lot of time to come up with this coaching aid but it is also a piece of good material to get most if not all of the people doing the right thing.

3) Good refereeing body - This has always been the toughest to achieve. A good league can only be consider good if there is a good governing body for refeering and continuous development of referees in the region.

4) National representation - As per any team sports, there is always a national representation, in this case refers as a national team. The national team should only comprised of paintballers from the respective country based on their nationality. All paintballers know that there is no such thing as a national team but there are more pros than cons to forming one. With a national body, the association of the respective country is responsible for developing such a team and thus the due recognition from the paintball community, clubs and teams. The national body will also be able to lobby support from their respective sports council when it comes to funding the national team. National trials and selection can also be formulated. To continue developing the national team, the association is responsible for youth developments and awareness. So when will this national competition be held? Well... the World Cup perhaps? Let's put it this way... any good paintballers who already have a team will be playing in the World Cup. So they will be there anyway... a separate tournament in the World Cup where only national representative can play to represent their countries can help to determine the regional powers and grow the sport in the region. This could be done in a race to 2 or 3 format X ball style. This is nothing new as there are seperate tournaments in the Millenium competitions too, like the Activision Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, etc. The idea of formulating this tournament is to get the national bodies to be involved thus giving the sport the recognition it deserved.

I am hoping for more paintball awareness... more awareness means that paintball is more recognized in the region. One day, we will all hope for reply like this...

A: I play paintball...
B: Woah...I have heard of that... tell me more

instead of

A: I play paintball
B: Ohhh...pinpall

or

A: I play paintball
B: Ohhh...very painful leh!!! and expensive and I got no army uniform to play in.

or

A: I play paintball
B: What is that?

As the great man says: SOKONG SOKONG!!! from the Singapoeans!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Paintballers World - Singapore Paintball Proshop


Well... I wrote about this previously... but thought that I will be doing the shop and TILT a disservice if I dont put up all these photos!!! Thanks Tilt!


Basically, the shop has all that one needs to play the game of paintball... from recreational to tournament players. Tons of lifestyle clothings for you to act like a paintballer when you are not playing.


We will soon have a PS3 in the shop too...



This is the best part of the proshop. We fixed a TV just outside the store and keep running paintball videos... talk about creating awareness for paintball. One funny conversation that I had with a passerby:

Passerby: "Wah...!!! New shop. What do you guys sell?"
Proshop: "We are a paintball store."

Passerby: "Ohhhh... (looking intelligent), I know...Ping Pong..."
Proshop: "Er...no, its paintball."

Passerby: "Ohhh...pinball, I know I know."
Proshop: "!@#$%^&*() (thoughts....)"

Awarness is important... visit their website, www.paintballersworld.com