GRIP Nº10

N.º 10 - June 2014

BITBURG millennium

Benedicte Rønneberg interview

Katja Strohbach scenario

Road Trip scenario

Freddie Brockdorff interview

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48-7 Millennium Bitburg

14-15 Profile

30-44 Gallery

Shelley Farmer

16-20 Arena Moscow

70-79 Interview

Benedicte Rønneberg

index 06–07 Team

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Editorial

14–15

Profile Shelley Farmer

16–20

News

12–13

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Highligth Men vs Women

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Competition Arena Moscow Girls Cup

10-11

index

2 Inte

Interview Freddie Brockdorff

30-44 Gallery

48-75

Millennium Bitburg

66-67

The New Legacy Zane KJ Mañasco

70-79

Interview Benedicte Rønneberg

75 m

90-102 Scenario Road Trip

80-89

22-28 erview

Miss & Mr GRIP

eddie Brockdorf

116-118

Review - Dry Line Gear Bags

80-89

Miss & Mr GRIP

90-102 Scenario Road Trip

104-108

Scenario Katja Strohbach

110-115

Review Supreme Pack

116-118

Review Dry Line Gear Bags

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Thanks

110-115

Review -Supreme Pack

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RITA PEREIRA GRIP Magazine’s Art Director. She works as a professional graphic designer.

PEDRO SIMÕES GRIP Magazine’s photography editor. He’s also an accredited photojournalist.

ANDRÉ FARIA The scenario man.

If we’re talking about camouflage, gun replicas and lots of fun, then that’s where he is.

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DANIEL TEIXEIRA GRIP Magazine’s kid.

He is the man in charge of our website and all bits and bytes.

ZANE KJ MAÑASCO If he is not shooting, he is pulling some serious magic on the computer. the Design madmen and genius together in a unique guy!

HANDY TIMS Who better to help out than one of the RSH designers? Any subject related to image, he’s your man!

HUGO BETTENCOURT If there is something new in our sport, he already know it. The news man!

RITA RISCADO Our «Irishwoman» translates and puts up with us and all our doubts. Without her, you simply wouldn’t understand us!

DUARTE GOMES The mechanic in charge. Very few understand paintball markers and accessories as well as he does.

ANDRÉ GOMES One of the “kids” of the team. Dominates the English language. and helps us translate a few thousand words per issue.

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Property of André Filipe Sobreira Garrido NIF: 227215290 Legal address: Rua General Taborda Nº3 - 1º 1070-137 Lisboa ERC Registration Nº 126231 Frequency: Quarterly

DIRECTOR EDITOR MARKETING ADVERTISEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

André Garrido (mail@grippaintball.com) André Garrido (mail@grippaintball.com) Carla Peixoto (carla.peixoto@grippaintball.com) GRIP - Photo Services

GRIP – Paintball Magazine or André Filipe Sobreira Garrido are not responsible for the content of the ads nor for the accuracy of the characteristics and features of the products and/or goods advertised. Their veracity and accordance with reality are fully and exclusively the responsibility of the advertisers and advertising agencies or companies.

IT IS STRICLY FORBIDEN TO COPY TEXTS AND IMAGES BY ALL MEANS advertisement

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editorial

By André Garrido Director GRIP

W

e have reached issue number 10! This is a huge step for us since it meant a lot of hard work for more than two years in a row. This edition is already special yet we wanted to make this even better. And which way is better than dedicate an entire magazine to female paintballers?

We didn’t just want to make the cliché and usual tribute but to have an issue as if our world was only made by women. All pictures and contents are devoted to this small part of our family in the hope that we can bring more of them to our great sport.

Although the idea is genius, putting it into practice was absolutely insane. This was prepared with almost one year in advance from the first day the idea came to our thoughts. At the same time many doubts starting to appear: Were we making a real tribute or inadvertently were we enlarging the gap between men and women in paintball?

We decided to take this risk and move forward!

In such a special issue we needed to review Arena Moscow Girls Cup, the mecca of female paintball. At the same time it was obvious that we needed to be in the middle of all the women in Bitburg shooting the European Women’s Championship and the Millennium.

In the scenario part we gave special attention to the Citadel Big Game and North Vs. South where it was very difficult for us to achieve our goal of having only girls, but failing was not an option.

We also had the pleasure to interview three of the biggest faces of female paintball.

We have Benedicte Rønneberg, the captain of the best female team of the World, and Freddie Brockdorff, the captain of the first female super-team and last but not least Katja Strohbach.

Don’t miss our reviews and of course our special and surprising «miss» GRIP!

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Bunker Kings

G2 Overload Slide Shorts The new G2 Overload Slide Shorts by Planet Eclipse besides being light they also have removable pads enabling you to take them out when you don’t need them. They also have an integrated mesh vent so your skin can breathe easily and a rear rash guard to protect you from harness rash.

Bunker Kings is back in the market with a great attitude and a feel of innovation.

Their products give something extra to the players as we can see in their strapless harness or the extra-long bottle cover. They still have cool barrel bags available, regulator, barrel grips and t-shirts.

Gear Loader

The leopard returns Joy Division are back! After five years of disappearance from the paintball fields the most remarkable European team of all time is already playing in Scandinavian Paintball Series.

On their first tournament they only lost two points all day. Are they ready to hit Europe all over again?

After Vapor’s success, Machine created a new loader. This loader is called Gear and has a 100% jam proof feed system, single unit removable drive, high impact polymer shell and above all works at ultra low power. Its capacity is of more than 200 paintballs and doesn’t need any tools to disassemble.

XField 2 XField finally released the official version of the sequel of the first game. This new version has been in the works for the last ten months on the Android platform racking up 1.5 million downloads already. At this moment it’s possible to play the multiplayer only version on iOS and Android.

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highligth

It is easy to understand which room was the men’s and which one for the women.

Do you want to guess?

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Shelley Farmer P Text: André Garrido

aint has been running in Shelley Farmer’s veins for too long… She began playing at the age of eight at her Granny’s paintball site in Hook Wood, England. If this wasn’t enough, her father was the captain of the Bart’s Stud Squad in the 80’s and played for the UK Predators in the 90’s; her step father played for Shockwave UK too.

She started playing tournaments at the tender age of 14 and she went to her first Millennium at 19.

The list of teams she has been involved with can make any good player jealous: London Tigers, Celtic Banshees, Destiny,

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Wolf UK, MK Storm and more recently Poison Ivy. Even when she tried to quit in 2008, the paint bug reminded her where she belongs and she came back to represent GB Team in the first all-female nations tournament.

She also became a broadcaster for the Millennium Series TV. Although paintball seems to take up all of Shelley´s time, she still finds time for many other passions, like driving fast cars, playing field hockey and of course her fiancé, Case. Shelley’s job is top secret and all we could get without being arrested was that she fights crime! •

NICKNAME All my mates call me «shelleyfarmer»

DATE OF BIRTH 20/06/1982

OCCUPATION I fight crime! I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

STARTED PLAYING IN My first major event was in 2002

PLAYS FOR Poison Ivy and captain of the GB Ladies team

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Millennium Series, EPBF championships, Arena Moscow Ladies Championships, PSP World Cup

EVENTS WON Bitburg 2006 – 7 man, Belgium 2007 – 7 man, UK Masters 2008 Xball, UKSM 2012 and 2013 Race-to-2

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PAINTBALL Second place in the World Cup Chantilly 2013 with Team GB, but moreover being asked to commentate and to be part of the broadcasting team on the CPL games for the MSTV live webcast

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Arena Moscow GIRLS CUP

Arena Moscow Girls Cup is the beacon in terms of independent tournaments for women only. We couldn’t miss it in this special issue and present this excellent event.

Text: Minaeva Ekaterina (HEADSHOT Media Group)

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It all started in March 2012 when the Organising Committee of Arena Moscow Girls Cup did their best to gather as many girls’ teams from around the World as possible. Eight teams saw each other in the beautiful indoor paintball club – Arena.

Harpies, FL Charms, Valkyries, Iranian team Javidan, mixed team MaRussia (Malaysia, Russia, Belorussia), and several young (14-16 years old girls) teams from Russia started the paintball season in Moscow. That was the first female tournament in the world that gathered so many teams, so many sponsors, and so many prizes in such an interesting cultural and entertaining program. Teams were provided with full travel support: visa,

accommodation, transfers, among other amenities. For the first time international media groups highlighted the event.

In 2013 the Organising Committee continued their job and gathered ten teams including German Ladies Team, Poison Ivy, Asia All Stars (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia), so MaRussia, Valkyries, two teams from Iran and more Russian girls teams. The teams for the first time played in the new huge venue Arena Moscow Paintball Palace. It was a real paintball

festival for all girls playing with presents, photo sessions and a player’s party. For some teams this tournament was a good practice before the European Ladies

The first female tournament that gathered so many teams, many sponsors, so many prizes.

Championship, for others the tournament became the example of how girls can play and at what level female paintball

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can exist. 1-4-1 Paintball, RSH Media, stable teams to practice and play and HEADSHOT Media Group were shooting didn’t have enough funds to participate in 5-Man tournament. For the first time photos and videos during the whole Moscow saw a paintball female team festival. RussiaToday TV channel, main from Turkey – Jokella. And the traditional English speaking channel in Russia, made a report in English and Spanish.

The teams played in the huge venue 2014 was different. The political and economic situation Arena Moscow Paintball Palace. changed worldwide and not a lot Players Party presents photographers from of foreign teams could come to Russia.

Arena Moscow Girls Cup 2013 was held PaintballPhotography and Russian media groups were still present, in the best in two formats: X-ball Race-To-4 and paintball all-season venue – Arena Moscow «3-Woman» Race-To-2. That helped to Paintball Palace. attract many young girls who didn’t have

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You will probably ask what the purpose of this tournament is: Profit – not for sure.

The Organising Committee does everything to let all female players and teams attend the tournament – minimal entry fee for maximum benefits. Paintball promotion – yes, definitely! Especially female paintball promotion. You will not believe how many new teams and players appeared in Russia!

And all these young girls live for these Arena Moscow Girl events, they practice and study at school well so that parents will let them go to Moscow in March and play paintball there. Couple of years will pass and there will be a Russian Female Championship because there will be

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enough girls teams for that.

Next Arena Moscow Girls Cup will be held at the beginning of March in Moscow. And all girls playing paintball will be welcomed in Moscow. Since this

Teams were provided with full travel support. year Tatyana Nikolaeve is a Millennium Representative in Russia, if you want to ask any information or help do not hesitate.

If you are a girl and love our sport Arena Moscow Girls Cup is the right place for you! •

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Copyright ©2013 DYE Precision, Inc. The stylized “dye” logo, the “sphere” logo, the “dm” logo are either registered trademarks, trademarks, or design trademarks of DYE Precision, Inc. DYE Precision, Inc. U.S. Patent # 5,613,483; 7,594,503; 7,765,998. OTHER U.S. AND INT’L PATENTS PENDING. Covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents, 5,613,483; 5,881,707; 5,967,133; 6,035,843 and 6,474,326. For a complete list of patents please visit www.dyeprecision.com/patents

Freddie is the face of the most important female team of paintball history. In this issue we talked with her to know a little about the history of the team and what the future of Fat Ladies Charms holds for us.

Text: André Garrido

GRIP: Let’s start with a cliché question.

Where does your name Fat Lady Charms comes from?

Freddie Brockdorff: Good question, and one that many people wonder about! No, we are not in fact fat ladies. The name originated from a Norwegian male team which was called Fat Ladies. When some of their girlfriends got into paintball as well and started their own team, they naturally became the Fat Ladies Charms (FLC).

GRIP: You are not one of the founders of the team yet you still try to reinvent your team. Where do you get all this will?

FB: All for the love of paintball, right? Well honestly for me FLC is an institution in the world of paintball, one of the oldest still functioning teams in Europe, only beaten by TonTons and Ugly Ducklings, and probably a few more I have forgotten right now. From the first day I got into paintball FLC was a well-known team, the best female team out there, and without a doubt from day one I strived to someday belong. When I finally did in fact make it on to the team after a try-out, these

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girls became my very dear friends and my paintball family. Keeping this team going is very special and very important to me. It’s paintball history, you know?

GRIP: Your new team has some well-known female players but you still have few games and training sessions on your belt.

You got the 24th place in Bitburg but your game impressed many players. Do you expect better than what you achieved?

FB: I feel 2014 is a brand new start. I know it might sound like a broken record to some, but fact is we have struggled a bit the last couple of years with losing players due to pregnancies, what we call the FLC fat belly syndrome! But we have been able to pick up a couple of experienced girls who definitely bring some extra game and heart to the team. Mix experience with young and hungry girls, still aiming to rise up through the ranks. I honestly believe we are very close to finding that perfect mix which equals success. We are also starting to really find each other socially and gel very well off the field. In my opinion that is a big part of doing well on the field. No,

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«The paintball community still tends to get surprised if an all-girl team do good.» our Bitburg placing on paper does not look too impressive, but there really were some good moments there. To me that glimpse of greatness is exactly what we need to keep going. Even if we only won one game, we showed some stellar play and had some really great points. And the cool thing for me to see as «team mom» was, that every single player contributed. It wasn´t a few doing all the hard work, it was team work.

This is all part of building up something new.

GRIP: The FLC has players from Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway, Lithuania and Germany. It must be a

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nightmare to manage this team…

FB: No, not at all... (laughs). Honestly it is not as bad as it probably could be. In these modern times with social networks we are only one click away from each other.

We can manage our schedules, practices, tournaments and so on, via our closed team forum. So that works fairly well. I must admit that it was a much worse nightmare being «team mom» for a male team even if all were based in Denmark, keeping track of logistics and booking hotels and flights.

So my FLC ladies are almost a piece of cake compared to that… almost (laughs). The only real struggle being based in six different

countries is that we have a hard time finding time and funds to get to practice together.

We practice together in smaller groups as much as we can, but actually being able to have a full team for a random walk-on can be kind of a nightmare. But we work through it and all girls are really dedicated in going to practice by themselves as well, finding local teams to play with.

GRIP: You spoke on one of the main points of any team: funds. How do you manage to get funds for your team?

FB: I don´t! We have good support from all of our amazing sponsors and get a lot of help from them. No doubt we wouldn´t be able to exist without them. But when it comes to everything outside of gear, we fund ourselves. All the travel we put into our practices, not only within but between countries, are paid out of our own pockets and the expenses are shared between us (we are sisters, you know!). I know most teams have the same problem but most teams are not from six different countries, so I would tend to believe we have a slight disadvantage compared to others in terms of travel time and travel costs. Personally I can say that for the ten years I have played, all of my vacation days and pocket money have gone straight into the paintball pot.

My travelling connecting practices and tournaments have become my vacation, there simply is not money or time for both.

GRIP: Although you are a female team you play many times with men on the team.

Why?

«Tournaments are my vacations, there is not money or time to do both.»

FB: There has been two seasons (2011 and 2013) where we got hit hard by pregnancies.

Both times it was three of our core players that got pregnant almost simultaneously, which we honestly did not expect. As many might have realized by now, it really is not

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as easy finding female players as it is finding male players, so those two seasons it was simply a matter of survival. Getting a couple of experienced male players, who were our coaches and also really good friends, to help us out for some events. It was not only a matter of being able to have a team and keep the team going, but we also used these opportunity to fully take advantage of their experience and help us get the newer girls on board and help develop them. Bear in mind this was for the Millennium Series events, at the Swedish PBSM we still played girls only.

Local events are always easier. Even the girls that have kids are able to drive back and forth the same day or even bring their kid and play for one day. Millennium Series makes it hard to do that with its three days.

«The only point where men can be superior is on the physics.»

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GRIP: In 2011 you got fourth place of the overall ranking of your division. Was it a way to shut up some big mouths?

FB: In reality FLC have actually over the years gotten quite a few podium placings in the Millennium Series, but I think for some reason in general the majority of the paintball community still tends to get surprised if an all-girl team do good. It´s like they see it rather as an on-off thing than something which is to be expected.

Over the seven years I have been with FLC now, I don´t think I have ever experienced anyone who expected us to do well!

Because we are «just» girls? I believe there are like eight Millennium trophies out there that belongs to FLC, not too bad if you ask me. I think slowly this mentality is starting

«We are sisters you know!» to change, the female population in paintball is definitely on the rise these last couple of years, so hopefully we will see a dramatic change soon.

GRIP: Two seasons ago you saw Cecilia move to Poison Ivy. How do you deal with this change of teams?

FB: Hands down, quite frankly I was very disappointed. As I have mentioned earlier in this interview my team is my family.

Outside of paintball, if a friend or family member leaves you, would you not be disappointed, feel hurt and let down? She had only been with the team about eight

months, so it was a hard pill to swallow at first. Also seeing as we were already at that point two players down for the upcoming season due to pregnancies. But you know life goes on and I wish her and Poison Ivy nothing but the best of luck for the future, they have been working hard this past year, so they fully deserve the success they had in Millennium last year.

GRIP: FLC has the coolest mascot of all time – Mimi Yellow Feather – that has facebook, pictures as if it was a real person and it was even on Millennium official roster. Where did this idea

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come from?

FB: Oh yeah! Our dearest and most wonderful Mimi… you can thank Eyjafjallajökull for her! Doesn´t it ring any bells? Eyjafjallajökull was the volcano that broke out in Iceland in 2010 getting us all stuck in Malaga during the Millennium Series event. So what could girls do while stuck in Malaga? SHOP! So Mimi Yellowfeather was «born» in a shopping mall in Malaga in 2010.

I am much honoured that you call her the coolest mascot of all time, suck it Art Chaos and Dynasty (laughs).

GRIP: When we made the photo-shoot we talked about men being physically superior to women but you believed that women have other advantageous characteristics.

Can you give us an example?

FB: Multitasking! And better communicative skills, both on and off the field. We have good teamwork skills, and also I believe we in some senses have better strategic skills. Usually girls are much better at keeping calm and not letting their temper rise, although I’m excluded from this group (laughs). To me the only point where men can be superior is on the physical side, however if we train properly we can be just as strong as most men. Just look at Kat Secor, she´s the perfect example to me!

GRIP: Tell us the funniest story that shows what it means to be a woman in paintball.

FB: There´s without a doubt tons of funny stories from all my years in paintball, but when put on the spot, it seems I can´t remember even one! One thing that never

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«FLC is one of the oldest teams in Europe, only beaten by TonTon and Ugly Ducklings» grows old though, is after a long weekend of paintball and walking around on the field in dirty clothes and no make-up and tangled hair, to go all in on the last evening and see the guys’ faces, when the entire FLC army walks into the room all of the sudden all cleaned up and wearing heels. And that time that Kate got stuck in German customs, however upon opening her gun bag and seeing the marker was pink, just waved her on, surely that could only be a toy.... •

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DYE ASIA No. 253, Guojhong Rd., Dali City, Taichung County 412, Taiwan (R.O.C.), P +886 (0) 4-2407-9135 F +886 (0) 4-2407-2090 Copyright ©2013 DYE Precision, Inc. The stylized “dye” logo, the “sphere” logo, the “rail reflex” logo are either registered trademarks, trademarks, or design trademarks of DYE Precision, Inc. DYE Precision, Inc. U.S. Patent # 5,613,483; 7,594,503; 7,765,998. OTHER U.S. AND INT’L PATENTS PENDING. Covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents, 5,613,483; 5,881,707; 5,967,133; 6,035,843 and 6,474,326. For a complete list of patents please visit www.dyeprecision.com/patents

Sun, a lot of women, boring layout and 64 players fighting for the best player title. This is the story of Bitburg, the city in Germany’s corner.

Text: AndrĂŠ Garrido

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Bitburg is an interesting case in international paintball. If we thought of all the cities were all the major European paintball events occur in the world, they are all large and touristic places, like Paris, London, Venice or Rome. Even Puget-Sur-Argens, which isn’t a tourist’s mecca, has all the glamour of one, largely due to neighbouring Cannes and Monaco. Bitburg is the polar opposite: a normal town, where most players didn’t even venture further then the closest supermarket to the field.

So why is this place so special? The characteristic that the Millennium loves:

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huge grass fields, near large sleeping zones and very accessible. It’s also in the centre of Europe, which will get more teams to come to the biggest European championship.

One of the big problems of Bitburg is that it’s in Germany. The German laws are very restrictive regarding paintball, which is a pain for foreign players, especially those outside the EU. It’s common to hear stories of markers being confiscated by those that aren’t careful, and this year was no exception. There should be a clearer explanation of the hosting nation’s paintball laws by the organising committee, to fully

inform the players about their rights and one day, yet this wasn’t the case this precautions to take. year. The sun was out for the whole team, The event’s physical format remained the which proved to be a strain on those that same as last year: a corridor of shops were under it for most of the day, leading to the stands, and a bar especially the refs. could be found halfway through The stands are still a huge One of the serving food and drinks with a problem from our perspective. big problems nice esplanade, followed by We find it very strange that with Bitburg the four fields where all the there are stands being used is that games will be played. The that the organisation doesn’t it is in fields are coupled on each side, guarantee the user’s safety. We Germany. mostly due to the geographical understand the use of stands that layout of the terrain, which creates were previously located there before a natural division between the CPL and the Millennium came, and that is the reason SPL1 and the SPL2 and OD1/OD2 fields. for the organisation not to feel responsible.

This year the climate was amazing. In Nonetheless they do not offer any other other years, there was rain on at least alternatives. For us, it’s not enough

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to place a small warning at the stand’s netting and fences, to create player zones. In this way the teams had small entrances to not ensure the viewers’ safety tents near the field’s pathways to reach and to save some hundreds of euros. all fields and hide from the sun’s glare.

One of the questions that kept being Another positive aspect was the high asked over the weekend was who was responsible for the field’s layout. It was number of women present. The fact that there was the European horrible, not due to its design, Championship Women brought but because of the type of The many to Bitburg, showing that game played, a closed and layout was although they are a minority defensive format as created. horrible! Boring in the sport they still have In 15 years of existence the to play, annoying enough of a say in it to create Millennium has never seen a to ref and a tournament dedicated to field like that. It was boring uninteresting the fairer sex. There are even to play, annoying to ref and to watch. teams where the central figure is uninteresting to watch. The a woman, almost carrying the team field was so defensive that there on their back. There are also women-only were teams using up 150 boxes of paint teams such as Poison Ivy and Fat Ladies just in the group phases.

Charms, who give all the men some bad One of the interesting details of the headaches, who stupidly feel inferior when event was the use of certain «dead» losing to women. zones, where there used to only be

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However the large number of women at the event doesn’t mean that the number of teams playing rose. Unlike what was expected, this event had even less teams than Puget, which is strange for the German event. There were 121 teams, 29 less than last year, which makes us think that the economic crisis has hit its max regarding our sport as this tends to be the largest event, team-wise.

We sincerely hope that the next events

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prove the opposite.

As we have stated many times, the lowest division – OD2- suffers from the roller-coaster syndrome, that is, it’s very possible that a team that finished on the podium in the previous event might well end up at the bottom, or not even come to the event. It is therefore without surprise that the same occurred in Bitburg. The team that came in first in Puget stayed in France, giving Ultra

Moscow their place on the podium, a (FLC). FLC are probably the most famous Russian team that had never participated all-women’s team in our sport. The fact in the Millennium. The same scenario that they weren’t present in Puget left occurred with the German team Glory us apprehensive, but it turned out to be Skulls who only participate in the German simply an «extreme makeover» of the event, came third, the same place they team which meant that a break longer achieved last year in the same event. than usual between tournaments was In second came the Russian team necessary. In a team with players Wazzup Moscow, guaranteeing from six nations, chaos can Silje, them a first place overall easily occur; they were Linda, after finishing in fifth in the however very much up to Cecilia, Freddie previous event. We should or Benedicte – the the task at their return and remind you that this division although they finished in best of the world only plays on the last two cannot play! What 24th, they always had a very days of the Millennium, in a controlled game, winning their kind of event Race-to-2 format. first point against Hurricanes. is this?

Open Division 1 (OD1) is a In this division there is also league that is more stable in its nature Poison Ivy, who after an amazing season and rankings, but with such a closed and last year they have had difficulties tactical field layout anything can happen getting their whole team, new members to the least prepared teams or to those included, playing at their usual level. with a more aggressive game. The big They finished in penultimate, taking them surprise of this league was the return out of the race of teams bidding to go up of the female team Fat Ladies Charms to the next division.

1 ON 1 Bitburg received once again the 1v1 tournament. This time 64 players attempted to win the 1000€ reward and the consequent fame. The big surprise however was the absence of «Ollie» Lang, the winner in France, yet the success of the event in Puget got some other big names to sign up for it. We got the chance to see Justin Cornell, Jason Wheeler, Knyazev, Tavarez and even J-Rab fight it out gladiator-style in a memorable tournament.

After five ardous stages, Mikhail Knyazev was the victor after beating Kevin Coulm in the final, taking the trophy and money home. millennium

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Another big surprise was Fivestar Leida dedicated to women, it’s interesting to 2 who after their first place in Puget they see how the team that came in second has th disappointed the crowd, landing a 14 as a woman as one of their main players, place.

Elisa Fischi. This is only surpassed by the In this division Indecende came first fact that the team in first place overall, after their seventh place in Puget, Fighter Pro-Shar, is led by Marya also rising up to first place Korolyova. overall. In second, Frankfurt Fighter, alongside with One team Syndicate 2 followed by Prophecy, are the most stable used Montreal Image. teams of SPL2. Between them 150 paint In SPL2 the games and is Brussels Heat, who holds a boxes therefore results further third place overall thanks to in three stabilise. There isn’t such their first place in the French games! large movements within event. The second place overall the tournament’s ranks, and it is held by Vienna United due to becomes the norm to see the same faces their 100 points from reffing, a custom rein the podium. The only exception was introduced this year.

Dagnir Dae 2 who managed a third place In SPL1 we can begin to see which th in Bitburg after their catastrophic 14 teams aspire to be the next big European place in Puget. Outlaw came first who superpowers. And here, there is no margin fought hard against Dynamix. In an issue for error. All players seem to be aware

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of that, even the wild surprise Mashive, who after their awful first event won’t go further than 16th place. Hulk Kiev are favourites for this season as they hold two first places, mostly due to their effective use of Marcello Margott and Alex Goldman.

We suspect that this team won’t lose their leading position until the end of the season and now we can only look ahead to the 2015 season, in case they can’t take their «mercenaries» with them.

The big rivals of the Ukrainian team are, from our view, Fivestar Lleida.

Although they are in fourth overall, and dropped from fifth to seventh, we feel that by the end of the season they will be the team that gives the strongest headaches to the others in this division.

Amsterdam Heat took a solid third in the event and MLKings Prague, a sixth.

Roosters Ulm remained in sixth overall after winning a second place in Bitburg.

CPL was dreary, monotonous, a bore!

If that layout worked with the lower divisions, where the better teams would capitalise on the least experienced

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team’s mistakes, this was not the case points from first, but in a comfortable with CPL. All teams are of the best third overall with 32 points difference. quality, and when they are able to protect Third place overall is controlled by those that we expect to see on the themselves effectively and shoot for long minutes, you get: Bitburg. podium real soon: Polar Bears. The The most desired league in Europe Russian will further aided by Olliver seems to have suffered a revolution since Lang and Ryan Greenspan is something last year. The European Champions, unique. In such an atypical year, with Tontons, got a better result in Art Chaos and Tontons lagging Silje, Puget, yet were still out of behind, we won’t find it hard Linda, the top 4. Art Chaos are to believe if we ever see the Cecilia, Freddie unrecognisable, with a or Benedicte – the Bears in a final and, who disorientated game plan, knows, winning it. best of the world and no end in sight to their Second place went to cannot play! What woeful season, finishing in Breakout Spa, in pone of the kind of event is sixth. most «tactical» games ever (we this?

Outrage, after their amazing ran out of synonyms for boring) performance in Puget didn’t get where the Belgian team lost by 2:0 anything better than tenth, whereas against the current ranking leaders.

Comin At Ya achieved a seventh and a A lot is expected of London, as the third fifth overall. event can settle a lot of uncertainties The four top teams are exactly those over final places for the season. in the top four places overall. The top There is still a lot of paint to be shot two are those that have shown us that yet we would like to see most creativity they deserve to win the event. Impact, and less lanes being shot. The game is with two first places already under their played by players and plays, never by belt, didn’t break their streak in this tedious minutes of shooting. event; Houston Heat however slipped and Let London arrive with its typical had to be happy with a fourth place, 40 weather! Let London be a glorious event! advertisement

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EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP WOMAN’S It was time for the fairer sex to battle it out in the female European championship in Germany. Six teams, divided into two groups, fought amongst themselves to show who would be the European champion.

Unfortunately some teams had to step aside due to lack of players, namely last

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year’s champions Norway.

This, besides being an important international event, is a landmark for all the players that wish to show that they compete at the same level as their male peers. The truth is that in some cases there are women that play at a much higher level than the average.

In the first group was Russia, the UK and

Germany, whilst in group B France, Poland was the Netherlands who reached a second and the Netherlands were playing each place when last time they stayed in last. other. In this first group phase those that In all the finals there wasn’t any real came in first would go to the final, excitement, once again caused by the those in second would fight for layout. Russia beat France without bronze and those third would any problems and the UK came It would fight for the remaining places. third to the Netherlands. not be In group A the fight as It would be great to see strange to mainly focused between the more women and more teams see the favourites Russia and the UK. for the next event. Letting Polar Bears The former didn’t disappoint top players like Silje, Londa, win a final. and won both of its games by Cecilia, Freddie or Benedicte 4:0. The UK came second, with out was a huge mistake made Germany in third. by the organisers of this event. They Group B allowed for France to shine, basically pulled out all the world’s best although they experienced some difficulties players due to an incomplete roster. This with Poland. This tournament’s surprise has got to be solved! • advertisement

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When the «enemy» is a woman

By Zane KJ Mañasco

After our first Millennium Series event standing beside you. Next was Cologne in Puget, the team was hungry and the Hurricanes, a great team in the DPL, and results of all the hard work were starting we expected a tough fight. The match was to show. Our captains Miguel Angel and excellent and close but we managed to dig Rafa had a plan and the plan was working. deep and get the win.

So with a decent result we prepared for Our third game in the pre-lims was against the next event in Bitburg. the mighty FL Charms. We have known As a team we are never over-confident, the girls for a long time and we know that we understand how each tournament although they may look girly they are a strong is different and every opponent should squad that should never be underestimated. be respected, you don’t want any nasty Freddie and her girls fought very well but we surprises. With this in mind Girls are just as good, if not better, we had a pretty decent group.

First we faced Redball Paris 2, a work just as hard and are as deserving strong squad with great pedigree, of respect as any male on the field. we knew it was never going to be easy so we stuck to our game plans and did our jobs. The match was long managed to get an early lead. They came and Redball played a great game which meant back hard in a point and showed us what the we needed to step up our game. We managed Charms can do when cornered. to get the win and began our event with the It seems that whenever a team faces momentum needed. another in the field a certain amount of It’s very important to trust your team aggression and ego is needed to triumph. and also the game plans that the coach Of course there are many other deciding and captains lay out; within Harca we all factors in any given victory, but it’s have a voice but we know that when its the desire to overcome which feels the time to knuckle down and fight for the one strongest. Should this be different if the

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opposition happens to be female?

Under any circumstance the oppositions’ gender should not be a consideration of the game. Yet it’s apparent that as men, we feel somewhat different when beating or being beaten by the opposite sex. Having played a few games against female teams I have won and lost, but the feeling at the end of each match seems somehow different. A loss feels more emasculating and paradoxically if you triumph it feels somewhat hollow.

Now this is just bullcrap. These girls and women are just as good, if not better than men, work just as hard and are as deserving

of respect as any male on the field. They put up with a whole lot of objectification in a male dominated sport. So I am left wondering what silly and redundant sentiment makes a male player feel this way.

I am sure these women step on the field with an equal desire to win, to somehow feel bad is to disrespect their ability and hard work.

At the same time I suppose it does not help that sometimes teams play up the female angle for their own benefit. We see it everywhere how companies sell the «girl» paintballer as a novelty, but even this is understandable. It’s clear that if

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any special treatment, so drop your guard you will get a nasty surprise! Otherwise simply be humble in victory and courteous in defeat. As the sport grows I guess it will be more common to get your arse handed to you by a bunch of girls and women. So I guess it’s time we stop seeing these teams as «Girl Paintballers» and just plain old boring «Paintballers».

Even though we only made it to the final eight, Harca is starting to gel and show results, with every point we play we make new friends and learn something new. It is truly humbling to see how this sport supports new teams. From big companies to the crowd and mostly other teams we

women do not see themselves represented in paintball how can we expect them to join in and compete, putting Although they may look girly they themselves at the same level as men? are a strong squad that should With all that in mind it is also important to remember that when never be underestimated. we do face off female teams we have been given an amazing chance to go treat them with the same respect that any other player deserves. No more, no less. I on this amazing journey. am sure most of these ladies do not want See you in Basildon! •

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We interviewed the leader of the best female team in the world and found a humble woman, with a great notion of leadership and above all a very intelligent person who dodged all our polemic questions. We introduce you, Benedicte Rønneberg.

Text: André Garrido

GRIP: Why create a team only with women?

Benedicte Rønneberg: When I started playing nine years ago I didn’t really have a plan about all of this. It was actually Sniper Paintball, our home field in Norway that asked us if we wanted to start an allgirls team.

GRIP: Do you see yourself playing full time in a male team?

BR: It would never happen now, as long as I play paintball I’m going to play in Poison Ivy, everything else would feel wrong, I think. But I would have no problem playing on a men’s team, if I for some reason couldn’t play with Ivy anymore.

GRIP: For the first time we have a female team with a game style similar to men.

How did Poison Ivy get what other girls in the past couldn’t do?

BR: I think one of the reasons is that ever since we started playing we have been able to train with really good male teams, like Drammen Solid and the for the last couple of years we have had good coaches who

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wants to see us at our best. People have a tendency to look like the people they train with, and we have heard many times that we look like Solid when we play. I guess that’s a good thing.

GRIP: Let’s face this as fair as we can be. You have a female team, one amazing sponsor, your team is always on autograph sessions and you have pictures everywhere... does it help to be women in this sport?

BR: It probably helps in one way, as you mentioned with the exposure of the team and media as well as other attention! But when 95% of the teams in this sport consist of men I can’t say I’m surprised that we get a bit more attention… But it doesn’t help to be a woman or an all-female team when it comes to the playing, most men are stronger and faster that women, and that has a lot to say in paintball.

GRIP: This is a sport... men usual are faster and stronger than women. How can a team like yours overcome most of male teams of your division?

«As long as I play paintball I’m going to play in Poison Ivy» BR: Well, I think you have to be better at the other stuff the game consists of!

Breakshooting for example, if you are able to eliminate one or two players on the other team off the break you make it a lot easier for yourself! Snap shooting is another thing we practice at every training, which comes in handy a lot during a game. Communication is also something we work on a lot. But it’s

difficult to give you a recipe to how we have come so far... I guess what we also have done with Ivy is figure out what individual players are good at and then make sure they get even better at that.

GRIP: This means that for you, women are always in disadvantage in the field?

BR: When you put it like that it sounds

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tell us the best one?

BR: I remember a guy coming up to me before we played them and said that if we won he would quit paintball all together.

We ended up winning the game! He was not very happy...

really bad... But not all men are faster and stronger than women... and not all male teams are faster and stronger than us. So I guess my answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no.

GRIP: This year you had to rebuild your team, after some of your key players left.

How difficult is it to hire female players?

BR: When we add new players to the team, we want them to be at the same level as the rest of the players already on the team which makes rebuilding a bit easier. We have added players to the team in previous year that had never touched a paintball marker... That is exhausting, and it hurts the team in a big way, because you all have to start from the beginning... It’s not so difficult finding good female players who want to play on Poison Ivy but it’s difficult to find girls who live in the same country.

Last year we were five girls who all lived in Norway which made trainings, meeting and communication a lot easier, at least for the five who lived in Norway. This year we have players from four different countries, it makes everything more difficult, as our results so far this year have shown...

GRIP: One thing that is possibly constant for you is that men can’t stand to lose with girls. Why do you think this happens?

BR: (Laughs) It seems so, doesn’t it? Maybe they think that’s not the way it should be? I have no idea, maybe you should ask a man!

GRIP: You must certainly have a funny story about this gender rivalry. Can you

GRIP: Do you think your results this year are more related with the different countries and not only with the rebuilding?

BR: I think it’s a result of both factors. If we had three new Norwegian girls on the team we would still have to learn how to play together. Being able to trust your teammates,

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and communication is not something that comes over night. It takes time to get there together as a team. As of now I feel like we have seven good individual players on the team, the challenge now is to get those seven players to play together.

addition to the team. Josepha has been nothing but a joy to have on the team!

Sometimes we struggle a bit with the language, but it’s getting better and better every time we are together. She’s

«When 95% of the teams in this sport consist of men I can’t say I’m surprised that we get a bit more attention.»

GRIP: This year Poison Ivy hired Josepha and Marie.

How has the adaptation been?

BR: It’s been great! Marie played with us a couple of years ago, and after a break and a year with another team she has finally found her way home! And we are very happy to have her back! She is an experienced and smart player, a good

young, hungry and eager to learn! And very aggressive, which we need on the team!

GRIP: Another aggressive player is Cecilia.

She came directly from Fat Ladies in what some could call a little controversial

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change. How did you see this change at point I think we all just wanted to quit. the time?

Moving up to SPL2 was something we all BR: I don’t know about controversy... wanted so badly. For me I think that has Changes like that happen in the sport all the to be the biggest disappointment I have time, and in all other sports. As the captain experienced during all my years in paintball. of the team, I saw Cecilia as a great player with great potential! And I thought she GRIP: And how about the goal for this would be a great fit for the team. I offered year? What is it? her to be a part of an all-girls team, who all BR: We had the same goals this year, but a were focused on the same goal and had the bit more I guess. We want to be the best intention of playing the entire Millennium female team in the sport, and to move up series. During the last year and a half I have to SPL2. I don’t know about our chances for seen that potential grow and she «Not all men are faster and stronger has become a key player on the team. I’m not sorry I offered her than women... and not all male teams a spot on the team, and I would are faster and stronger than us.» do it all over again! (smiles) SPL2 now, after the two first rounds, but GRIP: But many people say that you and we are not giving up.

Fat Ladies are rivals. Is this true?

BR: I guess people say that... When you only GRIP: And how about the best female have a few all-girl teams at this level I guess team in the world. Do you think you we end up looking like rivals at times. They already achieved it? are just as much rivals as any other team BR: I don’t know how you would decide that... when we play... But when we have a goal at We are the highest ranked female team in the being the best female team in the sport they world, so maybe that makes us the best!? become a natural rival I suppose?

GRIP: You have been to Huntington Beach GRIP: What was your goal last year? once but that was it. Why don’t you bet BR: Last year our goal was to get on the in the internationalisation? podium in our division, and to be the best BR: We honestly don’t have the money for female team in Europe. We managed to that... We want to play the PSP, and we’re achieve at least one goal! hoping we’ll make one this year actually, GRIP: How did you all deal with that but it all comes down to the money. fourth place?

Paintball is extremely expensive, and flying BR: We were crushed when we heard that over to the states is not cheap... we got 4th, and with the same score as the GRIP: Since you talk about money I have 3rd place! We couldn’t believe it! At one here one difficult question for you! In

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BR: (Laughs) Yes! That’s true! Where did you hear that? That’s the best rumour I’ve heard in a long time!

We will not be taking their spot any time soon.

GRIP: I recall seeing you in Bitburg in the finals and there was a feeling in the air that history was being made. What do you remember from that game?

BR: Thank you for saying that. But honestly that whole weekend was a blur to me!

We just kept winning game after game throughout the weekend. It was like we had finally figured out how to play paintball! As I remember the final was over pretty quickly.

DV8 was a much better team than us, and they deserved that 1st place.

2011 one of your team mates said that you pay to play. How is it today that you are famous?

BR: I don’t know about famous... But nevertheless we still have to pay!

GRIP: Just for trips or even paintballs and gear?

BR: I don’t want to get into the specifics of our sponsorships here. We have great sponsors but we still pay.

«A guy said that if we won he would quit paintball. We won the game!

He was not very happy...»

GRIP: We heard that Poison Ivy was supposed to take Tonton’s spot in PSP. Is this true?

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GRIP: It’s public that one of your former teammates dates an Infamous Player. Has this brought any special contact with this famous team that helped Poison Ivy to get more knowledge about the game?

BR: I can’t say that it has. We know many smart paintballers who help us out when we ask for it, but watching webcasts like the one from PSP, and just watching games when we’re at events is what gives us

knowledge about the game, in addition to playing as much as we can. We have a lot of people who help us with walking the field and just giving us general tips about the game. The guy you mention has of course helped us at times too, but if I was to point anyone out it would be Drammen Solid, who have been there for us from the start.

GRIP: How is your relationship with the refs?

BR: I don’t really know if we have a relationship with the refs... I guess its ok. Sometimes we disagree with their decisions, who doesn’t, but most of the time we think they do a good job.

GRIP: But how do you deal when they need to touch you to check during the game and after the buzz?

BR: (Laughs) We are first of all paintball players like anyone else on this sport.

How do you think guys deal with it? The refs check to see if we have any hits on us anywhere, it’s part of their job as refs, and part of the game. So I guess the answer to your question is; we deal with it in a very good way. And with a smile, since it would mean that we just won the point!

GRIP: Two years ago there were a lot of talking about your change of Media Sponsor. Poison Ivy changed from the giant Hybrid to a not well-known (at the time) RSH. Why this change?

BR: At the time we were happy with the work Hybrid did, but we felt that they had a lot of teams under them. RSH was like you said at the time not well-known, and didn’t

have that many teams to focus on. We knew Rody, Handy and Siegie’s work and that it was good. They seemed like a good fit for us, and they were able to give us 100% attention.

GRIP: You are 26 years old. How do you see your future in paintball?

BR: Yes, I’m getting old! I don’t have any plans to quit in the near future. The team has more potential than ever, and I’m

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curious to see how far we can go! But the most important thing for me is that I’m enjoying it, I’ll play as long as enjoy it, and I’m loving it at the moment!

GRIP: You are studying Business Administration. Do you think you can connect paintball and your studies after you stop playing?

BR: I haven’t given that much thought, but that would be amazing!

GRIP: Your boyfriend is also a paintball player. How does he deal with the fact that his girlfriend is more famous than him?

BR: It’s difficult to answer that because I don’t see myself as famous, and I don’t think he does either... But as far as I see he deals with it perfectly.

GRIP: In your social media sometimes you share some pictures of you with big GRIP: It’s well known that it is very bruises. How do people outside of our difficult to manage a group full of women. sport react to this?

How can you do it?

BR: Through the year I’ve gotten a lot of BR: Well I am dealing with an amazing weird looks, especially during the summer group of women, so it’s not that difficult! season. I always get a lot of questions We have very good communication on the about it at work. When we «The refs check to see if we have any played the PSP in 2009, we hits on us anywhere, it’s part of their took a day trip to Clearwater Beach. We had just played a job as refs, and part of the game.» tournament and we were full of bruises, but we didn’t think much of it team. At times we disagree about things, but who doesn’t... I do it with a focus on until two women came up to us and asked us if we played paintball. We answered good communication, and it’s important yes and they looked so relieved and said to me that we are able to discuss «Thank god, we thought someone might anything and that everyone gets to say have hurt you!» (Laughs) their opinion.

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girls into to the sport as well.

GRIP: Beside Women Championship how can we all help to bring more women to the sport?

BR: We have thought about having a clinic just for girls during the summer. Maybe things like that can open the eyes to more girls out there about the sport. I think that a lot of girls, when they are between 15-20 years, are scared to look stupid in front of guys and that stops them from trying. Other than that just spreading the word about the sport, and letting them know that it’s not just for guys.

And that it’s actually different from playing cowboys and Indians in the woods!

GRIP: Do you think this sport needs more women playing?

BR: Yes, and it looks like more and more girls are getting in to the sport. New teams pop up everywhere it seems!

Which is really good. The EPBF’s women’s championship in Bitburg every year seems to be a big contributor to getting more

GRIP: What do you think the future will be like for female paintball players in ten years?

BR: I think it will be good! More and more girls learn about the sport and maybe teams like us, FLC and Destiny can show others that it is possible to compete at a high level, and to compete against the guys! It’s hard to say, maybe we’ll have female teams playing CPL? Who knows, maybe it will be divisions just for girls?

Hopefully we’ll still be around! • advertisement

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Photographer: Carlos Rodrigues Modelos: Diana Teixeira and Ricardo Cruz Makeup: Silvia Ferreira Special thanks: Emboscada Paintball Store Paintball gear: DYE Paintball T-shirts: Cava

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Text: AndrĂŠ Faria

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Randon Photography

We have travelled nonstop through the first week of May to cover two of the most wanted European Scenario events.

Few sleep hours, many planes caught, dozens of games played, all to produce the best article that scenario paintball has ever read.

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The biggest European paintball festival keeps growing and improving its benchmark, year after year. New and improved games and activities kept everyone ecstatic over the three days of the festival, between the 2nd and 4th of May. The Swynnerton army base keeps up with the player’s needs and dreams.

There were several new things in this year’s edition, like the magfed games, the zombie shootout and an improved night gaming experience in the Evasion game. The battle of the bands, Tippmann tpx challenge and the players’ party are solid assets of this festival throughout the years.

The Evasion night game has an exclusive 60 members club, called the «Blackout Hunting Club», which would have to make

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life harder for the 586 players trying to get through the checkpoints to reach the finish line in the best time possible.

Several pyro traps, flashbangs and flares, snipers, night vision, mobile intervention units, QRF’s (quick reaction forces) and terrain strong points were used to hold or divert wave after wave of players.

As the organizer Jim Frensham describes: «The combination of a difficult terrain, pyros, pitch darkness, and not knowing where or when you would run into the hunters, make this a real assault on the senses.»

Those who had chosen not to go in confrontation with the Blackout Hunting Club members, were the ones to get the furthest sooner, with roughly 200 finishing

RR

the circuit. The fastest time was for Paul Brown with 1h21m.

The events, extra activities and fraternisation went on in the vast areas of the Swynnerton Army Training camp, while many went shopping in the several shops from present brands. We have to appreciate the support given to the players by certain brands like Tippmann, Planet Eclipse, BT, Luxe and Dye, with product repairs on the spot, some of them for free even with hundreds of euros of replaced parts involved. No other sport does the same.

The WarFighters have ran a MFOG (MagFed Only Game), that gathered about 200 players, in the famous UN compound part of the venue, with some special features: a juggernaut and Land Rover Gun Bus.

Hostile Intentions also ran the CQB (Close Quarters Battle) training sessions, a must in the art of clearing rooms and buildings, a technique that is always handy in a terrain like this.

The UK versus big game was boosted with a larger area and different limits, making the game play very differently from the past

The UKCF won for the first time. years, increasing its numbers to a total of more than 700 players this year. The UKCF (United Kingdom Combined Forces) was led

by Tommy Webb from So-Manc Mafia, while the JNTFor was led by General Lars RobertLarson from GPL Oslo.

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British fair-play and the knowledge of the differences between both teams, made Warped increased the player’s numbers in UKCF, to keep a fair fight. Those numbers were balanced throughout the day. Just for the record, UKCF outnumbered the JNTFor two or even three-to-one sometimes, but they had more objectives and a big area to defend.

Jim Frensham describes: «The JNTFor is made up of several highly organized teams, used to travelling, communicating and playing together, and will always going to be a MUCH stronger side than the “first come first served” players who make up the UKCF. So if we simply put an equal number against them in a straight gunfight there would not be much of a game!»

The JNTFor accomplished most of the objectives and was very close to making the final objective of detonating explosive charges at the mine. This created a brutal battle at the mine in the end of the game, as the UKCF held on. The UKCF won for the first time in three years that the game has run.

The Sunday FREEDOM Big Game had 1740 players battling through 400 acres and six hours of pure madness.

The South General, Jay Garcia, spent a lot of the time at his control centre near the game entry points where he seemed to constantly have a good grasp on where his forces where, and on the changing tactical situations as the battle unfolded.

North General Ged Green is an imposing figure and preferred to be mainly out on the front line motivating and moving his players directly.

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In the end Jays approach clearly paid off, with the South narrowly outscoring the North on the main objectives, but really racking up the points for the bonuses. The hardest bonus for both teams was to secure the FOBs on the enemy side, and the South achieved both, the North none.

The North faction scored 984 points and the South faction scored 1310 points. Win for the South, three years since their last win.

Jim Frensham describes: «Wow what a game! This is such a MASSIVE game area but this year more than ever we tried to utilise the best of the structures and terrain

1740 players, 400 acres, 120 staff and 65 marshals for six hours of game time. available. There were some immense battles throughout the day at the cities and the final hour at London was simply epic!»

It’s a massive undertaking to assemble this festival, with several months to prepare and some few weeks to put it up and clean it up. Just for curiosity, they used over eight kilometres of barrier tape and three kilometres of security and barrier fencing.

Jim Frensham explains us that: «There were over 120 staff and volunteers involved in the delivery of the festival over the weekend, with 65 marshals and game control staff on the Freedom game. People like Steve & Kim Eddowes, Tom Taylor, Paul Parkes, Dave Smith, Stuart Mattison, Matt Forbes Mitchell, Jess Clay and Steve Piatt, were the unsung heroes.»

Rick Anthony

Randon Photography

ADVANTAGES · The air and chrono areas, game entrances and field dimensions were tweaked in a very positive way. · Many brands and shops present but also international players.

DISADVANTAGES Randon Photography

· The mandatory chronograph tickets at every field entrance were a bummer. · The chopper couldn’t make it because of an oil leak and it was sorely missed.

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Text: AndrĂŠ Faria Photography: RSH Media

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The Citadel was a creation of Shoreline, with the Valken sponsorship, that turned out to be an odd event in one of the world’s best venues – The Fort Charlemon in Givet in France.

618 registered players from the UK, Germany, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Malta, Luxembourg, Greece and Belgium, accepted the challenge of invading the XVI century iconic fort, from the 9th to the 11th of May. The main objective in this event was to cover all types of paintball games, ranging from magfed to scenario, woodsball to airball, pump or pistol only, clinics and tournaments. With the objective set, Shoreline made a giant schedule with 82 games in 13 different areas of the fort.

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It felt like a «paintball buffet» where each player could choose where, when and what type of game should play or experiment. Leaving the field in the middle of a game to try another one in another field, was a not so common experience, but a rather satisfying one.

We cannot describe them all but will explain the most wanted ones of the three days of the event. The first day looked like a warm up day, with roughly 230 players attending sooner than the rest, eager for the games.

The Valken Combat Village was without a doubt the most spectacular scenario in the event. It created an atmosphere that sent the player to a first person shooter computer game, with several buildings,

doors and windows, passages and alleys, rooftops and balconies. A feast for your gaming experience where the CQB skills and teamwork would make the difference.

Several other small fields like the cowboy village, the alphabet and wooden millennium field burst with game hungry paintballers throughout the day. At the same time the CPS airball field was accepting 1 on 1 challenges, even with scenario players trying it out.

All the players had free loans of magfed markers and magazines by MagfedPBUK, RAP4 and Milsig. Wonderful to have brands united for a different gaming experience.

The first day ended with the arrival of several teams and players, reinforcements

for the next two full days. The overall feeling was that there were either too few players per field or too many events for the low amount of players (they were designed for more than 600 simultaneous players).

The second day arrived with the anticipation of the major big game, using a larger area of multiple fields and two

82 games in 13 different areas. teams (blue vs red) divided in two factions each. They were placed in opposite sides, in an X pattern where they had to defend their flag and steal the opponent one. To spice it up a tank would catch random players, alternating between blue and

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red, to make a mafia style drive-by.

The EWC (European Woodsball Championship) was being played in full steam, on the Valken Combat Village, with multiple teams from many countries taking their shot for the cup. Besides the control of certain areas with electronic flags, they also had power props to find and return to base. The 1st place was conquered by Heat Tactical and the 2nd place was for F.U.B.A.R. The shooting competitions were cancelled due to the bad weather, but the players could do the shooting circuit and compare times. The sniper challenges were also cancelled due to customs retaining Tiberius’ goods, like the markers and first strike rounds.

The last day of the event had better weather conditions but the lack of number of players again, made its toll on some schedule events, most of the fighting was done to about mid-day, and then it was time to wrap it up.

A Shoreline team composed of 82 members of staff had manage the three day event, that took nine days to assemble and dismantle, with a full steam two prior weeks of preparations.

The last minute change on the room’s availability to sleep, event with a two week prior warning, made some players quit sooner, or play just for a day. It was a pity with such a cool venue and all the prepared games.

As Tim Barnett says: «The learning curve for us and the venue owner over this three day event was huge. Most of

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the annoying problems were a result of the local authorities forcing the venue owner to make instant changes or changes at short notice. Things like the campsite, constant evacuating of buildings, sudden curfews which destroyed the parties were annoying for players and also for us as the promoter. The ‘buffet’ format also needs slight adjustment. Whilst the concept is good, there was too much choice on offer. There is no need for nearly 100 different games. Less games would mean a more traditional team structure could be employed which would feel more familiar for players with team HQ’s

Sniper challenges were cancelled due to customs retained Tiberius. and more of the things that players are familiar with from a true Shoreline event.

This was a good start for Year 1 of a very ambitious concept but there are plenty of adjustments and improvements that can be made to improve the event over the next few years as it grows.»

The shopping area was a good surprise, because it was based mainly on milsim products range with the major brands present, accompanied by main paintball brands. Shops from the UK, France and Germany were present giving additional colour and multi-lingual support.

But the surprises of this weekend didn’t end there, as both GRIP reporters were equipped with magfed markers for a test run thru out the event.

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RAP4 was kind enough consuming and heavy, but ADVANTAGES to equip us with its latest overall, a trustworthy, solid · One of the best venues model, the 468 with D-Mags and durable equipment. in the World. and a feather weight carbon · The «Paintball Buffet».

The magazines did not fail barrel. Very light setup, or had a paintball break for no ball breaks whatsoever the joy of the shooters.

DISADVANTAGES due to the lock bolt’s The event video with · Lack of warm showers heavenly engineering! The daily coverage was made by and last minute cancelation D-Mags made you switch a joint venture of Paintball on the accommodations. the magazine side every ten · Lack of team structure Nederland & Belgie and GRIP or factions with generals. rounds fired, which require Magazine, with multiple some practice to enjoy the action shots, interviews magfed experience to its maximum. and comments from the hosts, Jim Zuur We had the honour to also test the and André Faria, which had the fantastic Maxtact TGR2 from Magfedpbuk and its help of the cameraman’s Marco Cristino and respective proprietary magazines. The Arndt Kühn. Unfortunately the poor Internet new model has been improved not only connection availability killed the chance aesthetically. The firing and magazine of uploading the video reports every night, swap turned out to be a good gaming during the event. They are available both on experience, like if the marker was our the Paintball Nederland & Belgie and GRIP own for a long time. A little bit more air Magazine Facebook pages. •

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Katja is probably the best female scenario player in the World.

Her love for the game whatever the style is unrivalled by anyone of both genders.

Find that hard to believe?

Try to catch her on the field!

Text: ???? Photography: ???

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GRIP: Tell us how you fell in love with the sport? What made you play Paintball?

Katja Strohbach: I fell in love with paintball through friends who told me about it. So I joined them to see what paintball was like and if it was really as fun as they said. And it was so fun I played three times that week!

GRIP: What are your most vivid memories of those first days?

KS: Countless bruises (smiles) and that not moving is fatal.

GRIP: From your rookie years until today, what made you a better player?

KS: Playing regularly and seeking advice from experienced players. In my opinion, playing against more experienced players in different types of games: BigGames, Scenario, Supair also helps. You learn from your mistakes.

GRIP: Have you ever felt you were being treated differently for being a lady warrior?

KS: No, not at all. Of course there‘s always a bit of mocking going on, plus the odd puzzled face...

GRIP: How is your relationship with fellow team mates?

KS: I was already friends with a couple of my team mates before I got into paintball, and then, over the years, made friends with the others as well. And that goes way beyond the field, too.

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GRIP: Paintball is very addictive due to what you feel in the game. What makes you come back game after game?

KS: The fact that you can switch off your mind. Everyone on the field is equal, tries his or her best and wants to have fun. In a team, but also individually. You‘re proud of what you‘ve achieved and want to do it all over again. Defeat also helps going out there and giving your best. There’s fun to be had in each and every game.

GRIP: What are your «tastes» regarding paintball games or event types?

Scenario, CBQ and Supair. Every type is

«When I started playing, I played three times on my first week!» appealing in its own way. Playing various types is what gets me.

GRIP: Shoot us with anything you hate and love about the sport!

KS: Uh...I can‘t stand the hate going on between some teams. One day, team A is stronger than team B, the next round team B is the dominating one. It doesn‘t matter if it’s Scenario or Supair...we all play paintball for God’s sake! Makes me think I’m in kindergarten sometimes (smiles). Fortunately, there’s a lot more to our sport. And that’s what I love. You face each other on the field, give your best, put up with mean hits and maybe even give out some just as mean, but

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once the day is over, you get together for a beer or two, chat away and have a good time. Another great thing about our sport is how helpful everyone is setting up your equipment, borrowing stuff or giving advice. Let’s keep this spirit alive!

GRIP: If you had the power to change anything in paintball, what would you change?

KS: Tricky one. I guess one would have to change the influential people behind our sport. It’s crazy what’s being done in some aspects when we could all be working

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together. Prices, events, fields and so on.

Makes you wonder if this whole thing is about profit or the sport itself.

GRIP: How do you see the sport in 10 years from now?

KS: Uhhm...more recognition for the sport in Germany I hope. And more fields, especially when it comes to Scenario.

GRIP: What other sports do you like to do?

KS: Snowboarding and mountain biking.

You cannot play paintball every day.•

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WORLD’S FASTEST PACK There are things that are so simple that everyone tends to not think about it. What we had in our hands for the past few weeks is one of those items – the world’s fastest pack by BNKR Kings. Text: André Garrido Paintball is probably one of the sports in all history that most evolved since its creation but there are some gear parts that we never thought would suffer any changes.

The first time we saw the new harness made by BNKR Kings we found that something wasn’t right. Well, something wasn’t as it used to be. To be honest we didn’t find what it exactly was and we kept on our way.

When this product arrived at our office we understood what it was… the pack doesn’t have any straps to hold the pods.

Some of you are probably wondering how it works and how it maintains a fashion similar to every other brand. It is so simple that it sounds almost like an insult to all the gear masterminds. Instead of having the usual straps to hold the pod this harness has a

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pressure system inside the hard parts made by the same rubber bands that we use for the extra pods. Although the material is the same, the process is quite different. While with extra pods the pressure made by the rubber band is only applied at the centre of the pod, the new system applies pressure everywhere that the pod is in contact with the harness; this way it holds the pods and at the same time makes it easier to remove them.

This modification made all the difference. From now on you don’t need to take that extra second to pull out a pod and you don’t have that strap that occasionally gets hit without anyone noticing and giving you a penalty.

You are probably thinking that when you run, slide and dive all the pods will simply

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fall out. In our tests everything The only thing we couldn’t went smooth like a regular test was the lifetime of the new ADVANTAGES harness with the advantages holding technique. Since all Fast access previously mentioned. the rubber bands are protected Innovation The «rear» part of the pack inside of the harness we believe Design seems a little forgotten in terms that this could last about three of design and the padding could or four seasons at least.

DISADVANTAGES be a little more comfortable to We consider that if any player Price achieve perfection. The «front» wants to be on top, they always part is cool, with very straight lines and needs to have the gear that gives them all the not having too many things that gets in the advantage they can get. This is valid for guns, player’s way. The areas that protect the pods loaders, outfit and now for the harness. have a lot of padding which from time to One thing is certain, the innovation is time could give you that extra life. stupendous and the advantage that gives to There are 3+2, 4+3 and 5+4 pod capacity the players is amazing. All the little details models, one size fits all, according to the count, and it’s the accumulating of these brand, even for pregnant woman. factors that create a true champion.• advertisement

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Text: André Garrido

Usually a bag is a bag! What can a brand offer that can differ from a square of fabric with two wheels, some pockets and a pair of zippers? As always, DYE has a word on this subject.

At the end of last season, every time we passed at DYE booth we stopped to stare at the new line of gear bags. The bags were simple and pretty, and above all they had something that yelled: «Take me with you». We wanted to test them and see what the main differences are from others bags in the market and what makes them so appealing.

One thing is certain, everyone is always expecting the most clean and professional design of our industry when it comes to DYE, and these bags are no different.

DYE sent us two different models: the Resister 1.50 S and the Explorer 1.25 T. The differences are obvious at first sight since one is a big bag for all the regular paintballers out there and the other one is the typical «travelling cool-athlete» bag.

One thing that pops out immediately with all the 2014 bags is the DRY

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system that makes all of them weather sealable, a smart decision for a sport where dirt, paint and in many countries rain is a constant factor.

Although the Resister is not the top of the line in terms of size it’s one big gear bag. And when we say that is a gear bag, it’s in fact only a gear bag. The size is an important thing here as the idea is to have the simplest bag in the market with plenty of space.

The Resister only has three huge

compartments, two at the top and one giant in the middle that covers the whole size of the bag. The first big surprise is when you open the top «pocket», you realize that this compartment is thermal.

But why would someone want to have a massive thermal pocket? For a good number of reasons: first you can keep your open paintball bags in there; second you can keep your entire gear cool; lastly this preserves all gear in a controlled atmosphere, where you can prevent the collection of moisture.

The bottom «pocket» is almost the same size as the top and the giant division takes up everything seen in the pictures, without any divisions.

We understand the concept

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of having a bag where you One thing that some can throw all your items players won’t like is the ADVANTAGES in it without caring but kind of wheels that were Weather resistant honestly we would like used. Although DYE says Space to have some optional they’re all terrain wheels, Design separators where you we would have preferred Thermal pocket (Resister) decide if you want to put to see a more rugged type them or not… but typically instead of slick ones.

DISADVANTAGES nobody uses them, so it’s Overall we loved the Slick Wheels probably the right choice! bags. They are very simple The Explorer is a different kind of bag. and without unnecessary extras that will We would say that is the perfect bag for just make everything bigger and confusing. those who travel during weekends for The design is perfect with slick lines and the tournaments. This bag gives you the looks very professional. In both bags there best of both worlds: all your gear with is lot of space for all the gear and clothes your clothes. They are split by netting, in, especially with the Explorer. which allows the user to access both There are few models than can compete compartments from different ends. with these bags in terms It’s interesting to see how this work of image, space and on such a «small» bag. The size is two especially the longevity times a normal backpack and it’s sad that that they offer. • DYE didn’t think about this and include two hidden straps to make this bag a big backpack. When you open the bag you realize that it has a lot of space in both divisions.

At the top of the bag there’s a small pocket ideal for the keys to your gun, your id-cards, wallet, phone and music player. Not just one but all of them!

Both bags have a telescopic handle to carry them with ease. On the same topic of comfort, all the handles have memory foam. Another extra cool detail is that both of them have is an ID card holder for your identification on the back of the bags.

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THANKS

Blue Falcon Squadron Guilherme Pires Jo達o Ramos Ricardo Catarino

Thank you all!

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