Paintball is relatively a new sport.
Markers as we know them today were first used in the late 1970s.
They were used by farmers to mark trees, animals, etc.
In 1980 three friends -Charles Gaines, Hayes Noel and Bob Gurnsey were the first people to discover a new way how to use these guns.
In 1981, twelve friends gathered to play the first game of paintball.
The game was really slow and boring.
They were using marker pistols that had only few rounds, and had close range of fire.
The first paintball game went for several hours, and only few shots were made.
They were playing the classical "every man for himself" game type.
The first game finished successfully without any injuries and no safety equipment was used.
The first paintball games were held outdoors, mostly in woodland areas - that's why tactical paintball is known as "traditional paintball".
Even if the first paintball games were boring and slow - it did not stop the first commercial paintball field that was opened in 1982.
From this day, paintball got viral - it became so popular that in 1983 the first tournament was held, and believe it or not - the prize pot was $14.
000.
Which was quite big if we consider that paintball was quite new, and nobody was sure about it's future.
Between 1983 and 1992 many companies were founded that were (and still are) making all sorts of paintball gear - masks, outfits, markers, paintballs, etc.
In 1992 the first professional paintball league was founded - National Paintball Professional League (NPPL).
As we look at the history of paintball, it indeed is quite new, yet a very popular sport.
Today paintball is known and played across the world.
In USA alone each year 5 million people play paintball, and the number is raising each year.
Markers as we know them today were first used in the late 1970s.
They were used by farmers to mark trees, animals, etc.
In 1980 three friends -Charles Gaines, Hayes Noel and Bob Gurnsey were the first people to discover a new way how to use these guns.
In 1981, twelve friends gathered to play the first game of paintball.
The game was really slow and boring.
They were using marker pistols that had only few rounds, and had close range of fire.
The first paintball game went for several hours, and only few shots were made.
They were playing the classical "every man for himself" game type.
The first game finished successfully without any injuries and no safety equipment was used.
The first paintball games were held outdoors, mostly in woodland areas - that's why tactical paintball is known as "traditional paintball".
Even if the first paintball games were boring and slow - it did not stop the first commercial paintball field that was opened in 1982.
From this day, paintball got viral - it became so popular that in 1983 the first tournament was held, and believe it or not - the prize pot was $14.
000.
Which was quite big if we consider that paintball was quite new, and nobody was sure about it's future.
Between 1983 and 1992 many companies were founded that were (and still are) making all sorts of paintball gear - masks, outfits, markers, paintballs, etc.
In 1992 the first professional paintball league was founded - National Paintball Professional League (NPPL).
As we look at the history of paintball, it indeed is quite new, yet a very popular sport.
Today paintball is known and played across the world.
In USA alone each year 5 million people play paintball, and the number is raising each year.
SHARE
