Longest break/quit from paintball time?

dwizum · 08-08-2012, 08:38 PM

Just getting back in after a break of 16 years. What's my prize?

mikehuff24 · 08-10-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwizum

Just getting back in after a break of 16 years. What's my prize?

Paying way more cash for the same/very similar models from the year before. I quit playing to join the army in 09 im getting back on a team when i get back from this 12month deployment next week!

mightymike305 · 08-12-2012, 12:36 PM

Took a 3 yr break and now im back in it!!

Icon0clast · 08-12-2012, 06:48 PM

Quit back in 05, started back up and loving it.

dwizum · 08-13-2012, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehuff24

Paying way more cash for the same/very similar models from the year before. I quit playing to join the army in 09 im getting back on a team when i get back from this 12month deployment next week!

I'm not the kind of person who HAS to have the latest and greatest so to me the price changes have been positive. For one thing, paint is way cheaper (if you adjust for inflation). And, dirt cheap used gear is way easier to get now that teh interwebs have taken off (the last time I played was before places like pbnation existed).

loneassassin · 08-13-2012, 08:15 AM

I haven't played since last October and it's been the longest "break" I've had from playing in 20 years.

Not my fault though -- paintball is pretty much dead in my state. There's only one town in which people still play and it's a 2 1/2 hour drive away.

Soul06 · 08-13-2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loneassassin

I haven't played since last October and it's been the longest "break" I've had from playing in 20 years.

Not my fault though -- paintball is pretty much dead in my state. There's only one town in which people still play and it's a 2 1/2 hour drive away.

What state is that?

DeceptionLeader · 08-13-2012, 08:53 AM

I stopped back in 08 for work/school...now that i have a steady job i came back in April.

loneassassin · 08-13-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul06

What state is that?

Montana. We've always struggled to have a real paintball scene -- the towns are too far apart. Commercial fields can never seem to stay in business because (my guess) we have so much open land that people just go play for free in their own private groups. The problem is, there is little to no cohesiveness/organization between all the players in the state. Couple that with the fact that there are so many other things to do here that nobody sticks with paintball. I used to be the guy that got things going/tried to bring some organization/regularly scheduled games -- but I am 34 years old now, have two professional jobs, a wife, a mortgage, and no time for such exhausting endeavors.

I'd like to be able to just show up somewhere within a reasonable driving distance and simply play for a few hours, a couple outings per month -- but that's a pipe dream. Nobody will step up to the plate and make things happen. I also think that paintball has lost-out to COD and other video games. Rather than going out and engaging in real activity and relationships, kids are now "pwning" each other from the safety and comfort of their own couches and Dorito's bags.

I'm into a lot of other sports and activities, but there is no substitute for paintball. If you read this and caught a disgruntled vibe, you're very perceptive.

Soul06 · 08-13-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loneassassin

Montana. We've always struggled to have a real paintball scene -- the towns are too far apart. Commercial fields can never seem to stay in business because (my guess) we have so much open land that people just go play for free in their own private groups. The problem is, there is little to no cohesiveness/organization between all the players in the state. Couple that with the fact that there are so many other things to do here that nobody sticks with paintball. I used to be the guy that got things going/tried to bring some organization/regularly scheduled games -- but I am 34 years old now, have two professional jobs, a wife, a mortgage, and no time for such exhausting endeavors.

I'd like to be able to just show up somewhere within a reasonable driving distance and simply play for a few hours, a couple outings per month -- but that's a pipe dream. Nobody will step up to the plate and make things happen. I also think that paintball has lost-out to COD and other video games. Rather than going out and engaging in real activity and relationships, kids are now "pwning" each other from the safety and comfort of their own couches and Dorito's bags.

I'm into a lot of other sports and activities, but there is no substitute for paintball. If you read this and caught a disgruntled vibe, you're very perceptive.

I feel your pain man. Really do. Must be rather frustrating to hear some of the small things people on here sometimes complain about seeing at their local fields.

loneassassin · 08-13-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul06

I feel your pain man. Really do. Must be rather frustrating to hear some of the small things people on here sometimes complain about seeing at their local fields.

Yeah, it's extremely frustrating. I've been passionate about paintball since my first game back in high school; had some really good years in there, sometimes up to 40 people playing at times. Decent tournement turnouts as well. But it's just faded to nothing in the last couple years.

I could once play 3 days a week; woodsball on Tuesday nights, Saturdays, and one day of speedball on Sundays. Now, I go to the field only to turn around and go home after an hour or two of waiting for people to show up. I've even driven 100+ miles to no-shows. The sad thing is I'm really not in a position to do anything about it.

ILKx · 09-19-2012, 12:24 PM

Stopped about 2 years ago. Found some new people to Play with recently and now it's all I think about

rexisme · 09-19-2012, 10:46 PM

I quit for a few years. I'm back now, it is just as much fun as I remember, its taken over as the new hobby. My issue is, none of my friends have any interest in playing. So I often go by myself, which dont bother me. I usually make friends with a few other walk on players.

byarosh201 · 09-20-2012, 10:24 AM

7 or 8 years. I started again last season, only just started playing again maybe 2 months ago though. Got a nasty injury at work, now im finally back and I never been so broke lol

russc · 09-20-2012, 04:42 PM

I rolled my ankle in June, and didn't play for 2 and a half months. That's the longest I've ever gone since I started playing.

CJMiranda · 09-22-2012, 02:15 PM

My longest break was 6 weeks over the winter time and I had serious withdrawals! I get very grumpy if I don't play every weekend!!!

paintballoliver · 09-26-2012, 06:32 AM

My longest time apart from paintball would be two months, I am sure that will change when I go to college next year.

tvise · 09-28-2012, 03:25 PM

I work at a field.

It gives me paint and discount gear.

It really has allowed me to play when I want. But its not very practical once you graduate High School...

tlmiller · 09-28-2012, 03:30 PM

Started in 95, in late 99 I stopped playing tournies and played only once or twice a year until about 2002 when I started playing regularly again. Been playing pretty consistently since then.

destey · 09-30-2012, 06:34 AM

Played 3 NEPL tournaments in 1999 then stopped for college. Just now getting back into it. Much different now, back then it was autocockers, angels and the occasional automag or shocker.

Dark_Helmet · 10-11-2012, 12:06 PM

Played in 1994 at Paintball Pursuit in San Antonio. Bought a house, got into other hobbies, etc. Now that my son is 10 and Grandpa's Paintball opened 10 minutes from the house, looking to get back into it (and now I can afford it).

Need to get my 5 posts so I can get a used Mini for him.