2.4 What Is the History of Paintball?
Description
This article is from the Paintball FAQ, by Paul "Stryder" Kloehn pkloehn@frymulti.com.
2.4 What Is the History of Paintball?
May, 1981 - Paintball begins in Henniker, New Hampshire. The principal
creators, Bob Gurnsey, a sporting goods retailer; Hayes Noel, a
stockbroker, and Charles Gaines, a writer discuss the idea of some sort
of stalking game.
June 27, 1981 - The first game played with 12 players competing against
each other with Nel-spot 007s pistols. The game was capture the flag.
The winner captured all the flags without firing a shot.
April 1982 - The first outdoor playing field was opened in Rochester,
NY, by Caleb Strong.
1982 - Charles Gaines marketed paintball as the National Survival Game
(NSG). PMI (Pursuit Marketing Inc.), was founded to market and
distribute paintball products.
June, 1983 - Lionel Atwill, one of the original 12 players, writes "The
Official Survival Game Manual" - the first paintball publication.
1983 - The first NSG National Championship was held with a $14,000 cash
purse. The first outdoor paintball fields opened in Toronto, Canada.
1984 - Paintball begins in Australia under the name of Skirmish Games.
November, 1984 - The first indoor playing field is opened in Buffalo,
NY, by Caleb Strong.
1985 - The first outdoor playing field is opened in England.
1988 - IPPA (International Paintball Players Association) is founded as
a non-profit association dedicated to the education, growth and safety
of the sport of paintball.
1991 - Paintball begins in France, Denmark and other countries in
Europe.
April 15, 1992 - rec.sport.paintball passes its vote for creation on a
vote of 195 to 43 and is announced as an official newsgroup.
June - July, 1992 - Team Internet is formed as players prepare for the
World Record Game at Jack Frost Mountain, PA.
November, 1992 - NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) is
founded in Chicago and the NPPL Pro-Am Series starts with events around
the US.
1996 - IPPA is officially disbanded.
1996 - Paintball playing fields, stores and tournaments can now be found
in Canada, the United States, Australia, England, Scotland, Denmark,
France, Holland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Italy,
Norway, Sweden, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel,
Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
Continue to:
My Books
