Chart

Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: The Weekender

Media Credit: Amye Buckley Caleb Childers slides into position during team practice April 5.

Media Credit: Amye Buckley William Spicer and Caleb Childers prepare to test equipment.

Shots echo off the walls at Underground Paintball, during practice night for area teams. In a long playing field filled with inflatable obstacles, the players line up for the face off. Someone shouts "go" and then they work their way across the playing ground, trying to find cover.

"Keep going you're not hit!"

Players crouch behind the columns reloading and waiting for a clear shot or an opening to move forward.

"That's it, we've got to fill up."

Everyone has a different reason for playing. Members of the JT Sports team, K2 company are testing out company products. William Spicer heads up K2 company, and works as a quality lab supervisor at JT Sports.

"We test everything," Spicer said. "Clothing line, markers, hoppers, tanks, protective gear, just everything that we make, all the brands by JT sports."

Spicer played competitive paintball before joining the K2 team and the team is working towards more competitive play.

Seth Mims, a member of the KC Impact team, has been playing for three years.

"I play paintball because, of the adrenaline rush." Mims said.

His team just returned from a National Professional Paintball League tournament in Huntington Beach, Calif. Next they travel to Tampa, Fla. Mims says the skills of his teammates and good communication makeup a winning strategy.

"Before the game," Mims said. "We'll go out on the field and we'll walk it and look at the angles, blind spots, lanes."

Paintballers see a difference between the scenario and tournament games, saying scenario is more of military, outdoor style.

"You're just there to have fun," Spicer said. "Tournament play is fun but you're also competing for like some kind of prize."

While teams practice on Thursday nights and every other Sunday the paintball grounds are open to all players [during these times]. Soon players will even be able to purchase equipment on the grounds, although they will have to leave the cave.

Shawn Dodson, director of operations for Underground Paintball says they hope to open the on-site store around the first of May. He said the store will have a wide range of products.

"We cover pretty much everything," Dodson said. "We definitely can cater to anybody and any skill level, come out and have fun, that's what we're in business for."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools