FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021
to build as groups of players form and merge and, following loads of “high-fives” and “man-hugs”, the inevitable “airsoft banter” begins! Right alongside the event, the campsite rapidly fills with motorhomes and tents of all shapes and sizes and in previous years, has been home to
multiple team “swimming pools” and “bars” – although there is also a “quiet area” for those who prefer to sleep! This year, the Airsoft Action crew, made up of myself and Nige and ably supported by PMCI’s Andy Nightingale, plus guest visitors, Jon, Ray and Vika, were looking forwards to another hugely entertaining event …and that is exactly what we got! Before last year I would have been amongst the many UK airsoft players that said “Yeah, the National Airsoft Festival, what about that?” but after a totally entertaining and illuminating event in 2019 I was really, really looking forward to heading on down to Ground Zero to attend an event that I’ve done a total about face on! It’s one weekend that we all get to hang out together so that in itself makes the trip 100% worthwhile, and this year was especially poignant given the restrictions that we all faced during 2020 that meant “no NAF” for that year. For those that are still oblivious to the event though, the National Airsoft Festival (formerly the National Airsoft Event) takes place every August Bank Holiday down at the Ground Zero site in the depths of the New Forest. The NAF/NAE has been running since 2007, when Ground Zero/Zero One made history by hosting what was at that time the largest airsoft event ever held in in the UK (and probably still is!), bringing in players from all over the UK and Europe. At a time when we are a little bewildered as to what will happen in regards to our relationship with 30
OCTOBER 2021
the rest of the world and travelling around it, in the month ahead I will say that amongst UK airsofters we frankly appear (although we are happy and willing to face some restrictions for the safety of all) to still get our game on! Many personal friends come to the NAF every year, and it’s a time when I can actually get together with them face to face, which I love. Things may change again in the months and years to come (who knows?) but one thing I do know is that these guys will always be my friends and it’s always a pleasure to see them! The fact is that the NAF is just one HUGE celebration of airsoft, not just for UK players, but usually for players from much further afield, although of course this year the numbers were down due to ongoing international travel restrictions. The thought of a massive airsoft game involving quite literally thousands of players is my personal worst scenario though; we all know that sadly you get the odd “cheater” at even the very best game, and the chance of that happening with so many players in one place at one time means that this is magnified. Many players, even good ones that are always willing to give the benefit of the doubt decide not to attend the NAF for this reason and, having now been twice, I think they are truly missing out on a great airsoft experience - even if they don’t play a minute! Even though the travel restrictions meant that certain friends were missing this time (Stef and the crew from the Netherlands, you WERE missed!) the Event still maintained the warm, friendly “Festival feel” and I for one needed a bit of that! In the past the NAF appeared to be growing year on year, not perhaps in the number of active players, but in the volume of folk who turn up to camp for the weekend, see mates, bask in the sun with an ice cream or a cold beverage and shoot the breeze about
