Paintball: Lifestyle activity or sport?

I'm quite sure this must have been covered a gazillion times in various forums, publications and kopitiams everywhere but since it hasn't appeared here I'm gonna shoot from the hip anyway.

I've been sending out feelers to some media folks in Singapore about coverage of tournament/competition paintball and the response, or rather initial reaction, has been rather disappointing.

Here's an excerp from an MSN conversation I had today with an ex-colleague, a former sports journalist with a local newspaper (names have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved, their respective organisations and their pet shit zu):

Amok says:
if i need to get some coverage for a paintball tournament in singapore, you know of any reporters i can speak to?
Kermit says:
hahaha
Kermit says:
someone asked me two years ago when i was at *******
Kermit says:
i dared not even ask my editor
Amok says:
why not?
Kermit says:
coz its erm... i guess its for lifestyle
Amok says:
its not man
Amok says:
paintball is a proper sport
Kermit says:
haha
Amok says:
sigh
Kermit says:
i am not having this conversation
Amok says:
but now there's a Singapore paintball Association
Amok says:
recognised by the Singapore Sports Council somemore
Kermit says:
hey, stamp of approval from the SSC is... you know the score
Kermit says:
haha
Kermit says:
i think teh lifestyle guys may do it

Doh, there's the dreaded L word again. Based on my conversation with Kermit and a few other journos, it's quite clear what the perception of paintball is here in Singapore. The fact that it is being played competitively with national, regional and even world class events taking place all over the world does not seem to convince them of its viability to be published in the Sports section of a newspaper instead of the L-word-that-will-not-be-mentioned.

So what do we do to change this? Education should obviously be the main angle of attack. We need to first educate the media about the sport and maybe then paintball might have a fighting chance of getting some decent coverage as a SPORT.

To keep the momentum going, we then need to ensure that whatever paintball tournaments/competitions that are run in Singapore are well organised and continue generating public interest. We're bound to see more people getting involved even if they only see it as the L-word activity at the start.

The more people we can get onto paintball fields, the more potential converts we have for competitive paintball. With the number of teams signing up for the Singapore Professional Novice Series (SPNS) Leg 2 doubling compared to the first event three months ago, there is hope yet for the SPORT.

Geared Up?

Back from a 10 year hiatus we're here again to play the game, Ive been looking all over for my old paintball gear. I've found them but much to my dismay, Vision systems and field gear were not meant to last for a century. My JT Flex 7 had a crack right down the lens and onto the goggle clip. A result of my self made lens defogging fan i've put in a few years ago, Ive outgrown my jersey too it seems, and when i wore the pants it looked like leotards. I found a leg and an elbow of whats left of my protective gear.

I guess its time to get new gear. So ive made a list of things to buy for Team Damnation.

Vision systems.
The most important gear in my opinion, some of you might go, why isnt it the paintball markers? Well if you have 20 balls per sec double tricked out trigger action going, you wouldn't be hitting anything if you cant see crap. I've gone through some good vision gear and a lot of bad ones too. Things to look out for when your're out shopping for headgear are

Comfort.
Please please, please do not get something that looks cool, Get something that fits well to your own head. Sizes of heads vary , granted all the masks out there have foam linings to fit the contours of your face. But if you feel the mask pinching you in the face then that mask isnt the one for you . Ideal headgear conditions are the adjustable band around your head is snug, no pinching feeling on the bridge of your nose or the sides of your head.

Lens.
Thermals, Thermals, Thermals, might cost you a little more but its harder to fog up thermal lens than regular lens. Rule 1: You cant shoot shit when you cant see crap. When looking at the lens pay attention to the field of vision it offers. The human field of vision is about 180 degrees and staring straight ahead it is even less. Unless you are planning on looking out of the corner of your eye regularly rather than turn your head, a mask with a 120 degree field of vision should be more than enough. If you cant determine this by wearing the mask, a good gauge for this would be seeing how close the lens are to your face, the closer it is the wider your field of vision. Ive always used my peripheral vision to detect motion, having a good 120 degree field of view is essential.

Behold my soon to be new system.

THE JT REAPER

What can i say Its da bomb.

What made me choose this over all the rest.

• Good field of vision
• Quick release lens/Just in case the sun is out for my chrome lens swap.
• This mask reduces the blindspot area of your body/ It allows you to tilt your head forward to see from your chest below, cant do this with many systems. Conduct your own paintcheck. Time is wasted when youre getting paint checked by the referee.
  

Good hunting fellas...