Weekend warriors make new-wave paintball war games seem almost like the real thing

Woodsball, bushball or scenario play – whatever it’s called, this paintballing craze delivers the adrenaline rush, tense anticipation and kick-ass action you’d only ever get to experience in the heat of real combat. And it’s taking South Africa by storm.

Realistic-looking weaponry, cool camo gear and cocky swaggers aren’t necessarily prerequisites for this new fun-filled sport. Cunning, not to mention co-ordinated teamwork, most certainly is. (That said, decking yourself out Rambo-style and toting hardcore ordinance does up the ante.)

It’s not exactly the most politically correct thing to admit, but let’s face it: most boys (okay, and some girls) really enjoy playing with guns. Actually, one could argue that if you’re a guy, a healthy fascination with macabre weaponry is a genetic imperative. After all, male Homo sapiens has banded together in small co-ordinated groups to stalk prey, kill it, and then eat it since dawn of time. Oh yes, then there’s that dirty
three-lettered word – war.

Well, whether we’re being true to our genes or simply playing hard over weekends to let off some accumulated steam after a tough week at the office, woodsball has become wildly popular. It’s worlds
apart from its mainstream cousin, speedball, the more common style seen on sports
channels. Speedball uses flat, prepared fields and inflatable obstacles. Woodsball is played on uneven ground, either in natural woodland settings or mock urban environments bedecked with bunkers, trenches, narrow passages and the like.

Paintballing was invented by North American lumberjacks to mark trees designated for felling. Guys being guys, it wasn’t long before one of them took aim at his buddies. You could argue that woodsball has taken the sport back to its roots.

Games woodsballers play
Games can take on a number of formats, depending on the amount of players per team, the experience level of players or simply everyone’s agenda for that day. Paintball Africa’s Wayne Smith explains: “Sometimes we play straight elimination rounds because they go quicker. That way, we can get in more games over a weekend.

“Then there’s ‘capture the flag’: a flag is placed in the centre of play, and the team that manages to retrieve it and get it back to their side of the field wins. Other scenarios include games such as ‘defend the fuel dump’, where the (attackers) have a limited time to take out the defending team.”

Paintball Africa’s range is situated near Morningstar north of Cape Town. It has two fields`; one accommodates the faster-paced (and more spectator-friendly) speedball style, and the other hosts woodsball. The woodsball field is a warren of bunkers, trenches and wooden structures placed to simulate urban warfare. In pride of place in the centre is “Little Mogadishu’, a structure of tight alleyways, few windows and multiple entrances. The Somali name came about during a “Black Hawk Down” scenario used for a competition. Says Smith, “Players can only shoot through the windows and doorways. You never know what you’ll bump into when negotiating the winding passages… it makes for some really tense, fast-paced action!”

In Johannesburg, near Fourways, you’ll find The Woods – a range comprising five fields, all dedicated to woodsball. Four of the fields have a mix of haystacks, wooden bunkers, netting, trees and bushes. All of these can accommodate 20 to 30 players, and each one is set up differently for a unique gaming experience.

The fifth field is a huge area of natural countryside, covered in trees with patches of open grassland. As it takes about 10 minutes to get from one end to the other on foot, here you can give full rein to all your military fantasies. Up to 100 players can be accommodated at any one time; as you might expect, drawn-out raging battles tend to ensue.

The usual modus operandi on the big fifth playing field is for one team to be given a good head start, allowing them the opportunity to hide and set up their positions before the opposing team goes on the hunt. Here camo gear and cat-andmouse tactics are vital. As are, of course, mad dashes and frantic dives for cover. The team with the best strategy, communication and leader (yes, they structure themselves just like real army units) invariably wins.

Gareth Rens, a member of the Brothers of Destruction team (all the hardcore military simulation teams have cool names) regularly travels from his home in Vereeniging to The Woods to get his fix. Says Rens, “We usually stick around for the entire day and play until we’re tired, or until we’ve run out of paint!”

André Rossouw spent his national service in the infantry, and hits The Woods regularly to have fun, relive his army days and keep fit. “Woodsball is the closest you can get to actual warfare,” he says. An electrical contractor by trade, on weekends he dons his camo gear, slings his modified BT Combat marker (paintballers use markers, not guns) over his shoulder and becomes a sniper. “I modified my marker by adding a longer barrel, fitted a butt and gave it a custom spray job. I still intend getting a tripod, electric trigger and electric ball feeder,” explains Rossouw. “But all the modifications we make are basically cosmetic. With a basic marker you can play as good as the next guy – we do it just for fun, really.”

Another seasoned woodsballer and frequent visitor to The Woods, Mike Fletcher, prefers playing with an Airowgun marker. This is a paintball attachment that can be fitted to “virtually any bow you can think of”. His rationale is simple: having owned his own paintball range once, and with years of experience under his belt, he wanted a greater challenge.

Last year paintball was registered as an official sport in SA, and plans are underway to create a structured, national league for woodsball enthusiasts. Driving this effort is Paintball City’s Nick Birch.

Birch started a series last year with just two teams and now regularly caters for 12 at his Germiston field. The layout boasts double storey towers for snipers and thatched huts to give it a distinct Vietnam feel. Says Birch, “At present we operate on a first come, first served basis. But there’s now so much interest that if we had the capacity we’d be able to accommodate 20! Teams are coming from as far as Potchefstroom, Pietersburg and even Tzaneen. Our plan is to give the sport structure so that teams can one day get their Springbok colours. To make sure this happens, we’re in the process of negotiating with key players in the industry around the country.”

Gearing up

Serious woodsball players equip themselves properly, not just to look the part, but also to ensure that they “survive” and that their opponents don’t. Here’s a selection of cool gear to help you get started.

Get ready for war

If military scenario play tickles your fancy, then you really need Tippman’s Sierra One marker. Based on the US military’s Heckler & Koch HK416 modular assault rifle, it’s made out of metal to give it a realistic weight and feel. Features include a high-performance 28 cm quick tread barrel, collapsible stock, stainless steel gas line and proven high performance in-line bolt system. Price: about R1 850. Contact Paintball Africa on 021-551 3115 or visit www.paintball.co.za

Custom friendly

Those wanting to customise their ordinance won’t go wrong with Tippman’s 98 Custom Basic marker, which is capable of using CO2, compressed air or nitrogen gas. This semi-automatic has a firing rate of 8 balls per second and boasts a split receiver design, providing easier access to internal components for simplified installation of grip upgrades and modifications. Price: about R1 500. Contact Paintball Africa on 021-551 3115 or visit www.paintball.co.za

Small shooter

The BT SA-17 pistol marker boasts a precision milled aluminium body for durability and spring feed system. Its quick-change CO2 system and easy feed tube loading (it holds 10 rounds) means you won’t get caught short when the enemy counterattacks. Interestingly, it also accommodates pepper, ceramic and nylon balls, making it a great self defence weapon for around the home. Price: about R1 450. Contact Paintball City on 011-828 7583 or visit www.paintballcity.co.za

Fast eliminator

Dye Paintball’s new Proto Reflex Rail is more of a speedball marker, but it’s lightweight and can shoot up to 25 balls per second - giving woodsballers the edge when it comes to manoeuvrability and a blistering rate of fire. Other features include all-aluminium construction and programmable control with four tournament modes. Price: about R3 400. Contact Paintball City on 011-828 7583 or visit www.paintballcity.co.za

Face protector

Taking a hit on the body will produce little more than a bruise, and laughter from your mates, but getting hit in the face can have serious consequences. The Proto Switch FS Camo mask provides players with exceptional vertical and horizontal vision. Its multi-ported earpiece facilitates unrestricted audible transfer; uni-directional venting reduces lens fogging and allows you to breathe easy. Price: about R650. Contact Paintball Africa on 021-551 3115 or visit www.paintball.co.za

Take aim, fire

Sniper wannabes are sure to benefit from using NcStar’s DBB130 Red Dot Sight. In a black anodised aluminium body, it features a seven-position rheostat knob for multiple brightness settings. You also get an integrated weaver style mount and a ruby lens coating. Price: about R450. Contact Paintball Africa on 021-551 3115 or visit www.paintball.co.za

What a blast

In the real world, landmines are a scourge we can all do without. In woodsball, they’re simply a blast. The M80 Landmine was originally developed for military war game training, making it ideal for woodsball. Powered by a standard 12-gram CO2 cartridge, its marking agent is a highly visible fluorescent paint or smoke simulation powder. It’s also reusable. And, if you include the optional Burst Tube you get a seriously loud bang. Price: about R600. As it’s not a regular item, Paintball Africa don’t hold any in stock, but if you want one they can get it. Contact them on 021-551 3115 or visit www.paintball.co.za

Blending in

Who needs standard camo when you can wear a nice, lightweight ghillie suit? Originally developed by Scottish gamekeepers as a portable hunting hide, it’s a must for woodsballers who want to ambush the opposition. The lightweight, synthetic string material is scentless, hand-washable, fire and mildewresistant. Its shell is made of netting, allowing users to insert natural vegetation to alter its camo pattern further. Price: about R1 050. Contact Parktown Stores on 012-335 2740 or visit www.parktownstores.co.za