Staying active and fit is easier if you find activities you enjoy. At Feeling Fit, we do encourage a planned fitness or workout program that balances aerobic, strength and flexibility training. However, we also encourage active recreation and other ways to fit more activity into our lives.
Many enjoy paintball as an adventurous and active game. Given the popularity of Spartan races, obstacle courses and other adventure sports, it is no surprise that Paintball is also popular. What is surprising is the long history of paintball as a sport and game.
The history described was provided by and in collaboration with Paintballing Ltd.
The History Of Paintball Infographic
Who Invented Paintball and Why? A Brief History of Paintball
Why did people start running around wooded areas firing paintballs at their friends?
We live increasingly urban existences. Many people go days or even weeks without feeling the grass beneath their feet or walking between the trees. People like to talk about the obesity crisis and claim that “sitting is the new smoking”, that we are losing touch with the world that our hunter-gatherer ancestors inhabited.
You might think that our preoccupation with the past and the way that humans used to interact with nature is a new trend, something which started about the time that people began discussing the paleo diet on social media. But it’s actually an issue that has been bothering people for some time, at least as far back as the seventies.
It was a debate that two friends, Hayes Noel and Charles Gaines, often had with each other. They wanted to know if the average modern man would stand any kind of chance in some kind of survival-combat situation against a trained hunter, soldier or outdoorsman. Would the training and the practice of the ‘nature’ person given them an unsurpassable advantage, or would deep-rooted survival instincts enable the ‘city’ person to stand a chance of winning?
It wasn’t until they saw a paintball marker in an agricultural catalogue that they realised that they could put their argument to the test.
Up until that point, paintball markers were used as a tool by farmers and foresters to enable them to mark cattle and trees from a distance. Though we have rumours of ‘paintball games’ being played by ranchers and farmhands, no actual evidence of a game survives to this day. It was Bob Gurnsey, a friend of Charles and Hayes, who first thought to set up a paintball game which would enable them to test their longstanding argument.
They recruited twelve players to their game, half being ordinary city workers and the other half being experienced hunters. The winner would not only get the glory, but also a case of beer. They decided to play capture the flag. There were four outposts with twelve coloured flags each. The first player to retrieve all four flags of their colour would be declared the winner. Anyone who was hit by a paintball would be eliminated from the game.
The game was played on an 80-acre ski resort, which was clear as the snow had already melted. The firefights were intense. The paintball marker they used, the Nelspot 007, could fire just one shot before it needed to be reloaded, leaving the player agonisingly vulnerable.
When the battle was over a forester named Ritchie White emerged the winner. He didn’t fire his paintball marker even once but instead remained cool and quiet as he collected his flags undetected. We know about this game because one of the participants, Bob Jones, wrote about his experiences in a popular magazine. From this point on, paintball grew in strength until you could find paintball sites in countries around the world. If you want to learn more about the history of paintballing, check out the infographic provided by Paintballing Ltd.
Safety Considerations of Paintball
For any new sport or activity, we urge you to consult with your doctor or medical professional. Some activities are not appropriate for some people.
Since Paintball involves shooting and being shot with paint pellets, participants should always wear goggles, facial masks or other protective clothing. Check your local laws and regulations as some states and regions have stricter safety standards than others.
For More Information About Paintball As An Active Recreational Activity
- Wikkipedia page on paintball
- Men’s Fitness article Paintball 101
- Top Ten Health Benefits of Paintball on Health Fitness Revolution
Thanks for the lesson in paintball – I learned a lot! I never realized paintball goes back to the 60s – I feel like I didn’t start hearing about it until like 15 yrs ago or so.
Looks like paintball has grown into a really awesome “weekend warrior” sport.
I never knew the history of paintball so this was interesting. I have a few family members who are way into it so I’ll have to share this with them. Thanks!