Pursuing a passion in paintball€¦ · and now it’s his passion. The most important rule in...
2
Several years ago senior Harrison Gala- way embarked upon his journey in paint- ball. His cousin took he and his brother, sophomore Foster Galaway, to a local field; since then he has been hooked. “I play because it’s extremely competitive, and it’s a huge adrenalin rush,” Galaway said. Paintball is a sport played on numerous fields around the globe. The goal is to be the first team to capture the flag in the middle of the course and then transport it to the opposite side of the playing terrain. The catch is that you have to dodge the airborne balls of paint that are being hurled at you from the opposing team. Harrison is a member of two different teams. He currently manages and plays for his own team, and recently he was recruited to play for Star City Paintball, outside of Lincoln. While this sport doesn’t have a state or national competition in the lower levels, once you get into higher divisions, the sponsors hold tournaments around the Unite States. Paintball series are owned and operated by various businesses and sponsors. When in the lower divisions, players don’t make any mon- ey unless they have sponsors. For most people paintball is a fun hobby, but a few people are able to make their living in paintball. Once in the professional divi- sions and competing in tournaments, the money starts rolling in. “It is always been a goal of mine to make it into the pro-circuit, but it is a long road to get there, and there’s no telling what will happen on my way there,” Gala- way admitted. Harrison has been lucky, as he has yet to be injured. However, many players leave the field bleeding from the impact of the paintballs hitting their skin. Although par- ticipants wear head to toe suits made from pads and plastic, injures are still common. The fields are not always flat, the risk of twisting an ankle is prevalent, as is falling down or get- ting cut on the course. “I have not been injured, but I know a few people who have been hurt,” Galaway said. Paintball sounds like all fun and games, but it does have a darkside. Not only is getting hit by a paintball painful, but paying for paintballs, new guns and gas takes a toll on a player’s wallets. Players in the professional divisions don’t have to pay for most of that; instead, sponsors do. “Getting shot isn’t fun, but you get used to it, the biggest drawback though is probably the cost of playing,” Galaway said. Having a career in paintball takes a lot of dedication. Players have to remem- ber complex drills and moves to reach the flag, while learning working as a team. Most teams learn snap shooting and hand signals. Snap shooting is an offensive strategy that requires participants to pop out of their bunker quickly, fire a single or small burst of shots and check back into the bunker in a few short seconds. Hand signals are a good way to communicate with teammates, as it prevents the oppos- ing team from hearing any strategy. Most team hand signals are used for regrouping, getting hit and moving. Regrouping is used when a plan doesn’t work out - play- ers put their middle and index fin- gers in the air and move them in a circle. When hit, play- ers must show the “OK” sign and move back. Teams on the move can signal directional changes by pointing their middle and index fingers. The main goal of paint- ball is fairly simple, retrieve the flag. “There’s not a lot going through my mind other than achieving the goal,” Galaway said. Since his first match was several years ago, Galaway has a lot of experience un- der his belt, but it wasn’t always so easy. “During my first match I was a little nervous about getting shot, but after the first time it wasn’t so bad,” Galaway said reminiscing his first experience. Paintballing takes its toll on every player, whether it’s finding the money to compete or dealing with painful, bleeding welts. Still, this sport continues to grow in popularity; players love the adrenaline rush and the action of the sport. Several years ago Harrison started playing paintball and now it’s his passion. The most important rule in paintball is to always wear your goggles! Paintball is the #1 played Sport in America With almost 10 million players The first paintballs were used for cattle branding The outside of the paintball is actually made of gelatin Pursuing a passion in paintball 79% of all paintball participants are male Story by: Sarah Haack Infographic by: Natasha Anderson 6 The UpRoar October, 2013 The UpRoar October, 2013 7
Transcript of Pursuing a passion in paintball€¦ · and now it’s his passion. The most important rule in...
Several years ago senior Harrison Gala-way embarked upon his journey in paint-ball. His cousin took he and his brother, sophomore Foster Galaway, to a local fi eld; since then he has been hooked. “I play because it’s extremely competitive, and it’s a huge adrenalin rush,” Galaway said.
Paintball is a sport played on numerous fi elds around the globe. The goal is to be the fi rst team to capture the fl ag in the middle of the course and then transport it to the opposite side of the playing terrain. The catch is that you have to dodge the airborne balls of paint that are being hurled at you from the opposing team.
Harrison is a member of two different teams. He currently manages and plays for his own team, and recently he was recruited to play for Star City Paintball, outside of Lincoln.
While this sport doesn’t have a state or national competition in the lower levels, once you get into higher divisions, the sponsors hold tournaments around the
Unite States. Paintball series are owned and operated by various businesses and sponsors. When in the lower divisions, players don’t make any mon-ey unless they have sponsors. For most people paintball is a fun hobby, but a few people are able to make their living in paintball. Once in the professional divi-sions and competing in tournaments, the money starts rolling in.
“It is always been a goal of mine to make it into the pro-circuit, but it is a long road to get there, and there’s no telling what will happen on my way there,” Gala-way admitted.
Harrison has been lucky, as he has yet to be injured. However, many players leave the fi eld bleeding from the impact of the paintballs hitting their skin. Although par-ticipants wear head to toe suits made from pads and plastic, injures are still common. The fi elds are not always fl at, the risk of twisting an ankle is prevalent, as is falling
down or get-ting cut on the course. “I have not been injured, but I know a few people who have been hurt,” Galaway said.
Paintball sounds like all fun and games, but it does have a darkside. Not only is getting hit by a paintball painful, but paying for paintballs, new guns and gas takes a toll on a player’s wallets. Players in the professional divisions don’t have to pay for most of that; instead, sponsors do. “Getting shot isn’t fun, but you get used to it, the biggest drawback though is probably the cost of playing,” Galaway said.
Having a career in paintball takes a lot of dedication. Players have to remem-ber complex drills and moves to reach the fl ag, while learning working as a team.
Most teams learn snap shooting and hand signals. Snap shooting is an offensive strategy that requires participants to pop out of their bunker quickly, fi re a single or small burst of shots and check back into the bunker in a few short seconds. Hand signals are a good way to communicate with teammates, as it prevents the oppos-ing team from hearing any strategy. Most team hand signals are used for regrouping, getting hit and moving. Regrouping is used when a plan doesn’t work out - play-ers put their middle and index fi n-gers in the air and move
them in a
circle. When hit, play-
ers must show the “OK” sign and move back. Teams on the move can signal directional changes by pointing their middle and index fi ngers.
The main goal of paint-ball is fairly simple, retrieve the fl ag. “There’s not a lot going through my mind other than achieving the goal,” Galaway said.
Since his fi rst match was several years ago, Galaway has a lot of experience un-der his belt, but it wasn’t always so easy. “During my fi rst match I was a little nervous about getting shot, but after the fi rst time it wasn’t so bad,” Galaway said reminiscing his fi rst experience.
Paintballing takes its toll on every player, whether it’s fi nding the money to compete or dealing with painful, bleeding welts. Still, this sport continues to
grow in popularity; players love the adrenaline rush and the action of the sport. Several years ago Harrison started playing paintball and now it’s his passion.
The most important rule in
paintball is to always wear your
goggles!
Paintball is the #1 played
Sport in AmericaWith almost
10 million players The first paintballs
were used for cattle
branding The outside
of the paintball is actually
made of gelatin
Pursuing a passionin paintball 79% of all
paintball participants
are male
Story by: Sarah HaackInfographic by: Natasha Anderson
6 The UpRoar October, 2013 The UpRoar October, 2013 7
chassenstab
Typewritten Text
Newspaper Layout Student Name: Natasha Anderson School: Sandy Creek High School
