[John]

I spoke to Scott Kemp this weekend at World Cup and confirmed this would be his last professional event. He just sent us this emotional farewell about how much paintball changed his life.

Originally Posted by Scott Kemp

An emotional moment as I say goodbye to pro paintball and absorb my last few moments on the playing field with my teammates. After 18 years of playing paintball and 14 seasons of competing at the professional level, I’ve decided to retire from the one thing I’ve hardly lived without. This was hands down the hardest decision of my life, but it’s time I close this chapter and open a new one.

Will I miss it? Absolutely! Paintball didn’t just change my life, it created my life. It taught me so much from a young age. It taught me discipline, work ethic, focus, confidence, communication, and teamwork. It taught me how to win and how to persevere and grow from failures. But most of all, it showed me the world like no one gets to see it and let me form relationships with thousands of people from all different cities, states and countries who share the same passion for paintball that I do. I’ve met the most amazing people and seen some of the most miraculous things in the world and I owe it all to this beautiful sport of paintball! If I can go back, I wouldn’t change a thing. So if you’re a kid who’s falling in love with the sport of paintball too and you’re not sure if you want to pursue it 100% or fall back to a "normal lifestyle," trust me when I say, "go all in!" It will be the best investment of your life.

I have to say, without my parents support from day 1 when I first picked up a paintball gun when I was 12, this would of never been possible, so thank you and I love you guys. Also, much love to all the teams and teammates I played for throughout my paintball career. I would not have chosen any other path. (Crush, LA Shockwave, Hostile Kids, PJ Platinum, Sacramento XSV, SD Aftermath, San Antonio Xfactor, LA Ironmen.)

[crazyboarder9999]

Wow was not expecting that at all. Best of luck with everything Scott, I am sure we will see you around

[gunhero5]

Sad to see him go. He'll do great training people in paintball and fitness. Dude's always jacked.

Wish him the best of luck. He had a good run.

Ps. There's gotta be a better picture of Kemp out there. Lol

[John]

Here's the one from his Ironmen announcement.


Here's one from Xfactor.


If you want one with his shirt off, you need to go find it yourself.

[gunhero5]

I would, but I wouldn't want ya'll to stumble.

[FoidPoosening]

Originally Posted by gunhero5

Sad to see him go. He'll do great training people in paintball and fitness. Dude's always jacked.

Wish him the best of luck. He had a good run.

Ps. There's gotta be a better picture of Kemp out there. Lol

+1. Very much agreed.

[inertstatic]

That was unexpected.

I wonder if he is out of paintball or if he will be "Lang" out.

[gumbi22115]

Congrats on all the success youve had, enjoy the new chapters in ahead of you, and Damn you sure did have a hell of a final event

[hubertcumberdale08]

Originally Posted by inertstatic

That was unexpected.

I wonder if he is out of paintball or if he will be "Lang" out.

maybe he will still do clinics? or maybe focus on his fitness training people

[tomc727]

The Gosports crew on the webcast were hinting that it may have been his last event on Sunday.

[JohnSherman]

k bye

[aarospoon13]

I appreciate his recent interviews and discussions. We'll see where he goes from here but I hope its good. I wonder what Todd is cooking up now.

[Trevor the great]

Originally Posted by hubertcumberdale08

maybe he will still do clinics? or maybe focus on his fitness training people

He's in his 30s now, and you know what that means? Time to focus on your career. Not like he's on Impact making a 40k salary, he's probably retired for the same reason 95% of other players quit. Real life catches up, and you can't put in 100% anymore. Real life caught up with me 5 years ago when I was 21. Haven't touched a gun since. Now The most I can do is troll on pbn. That's life.

[maninblack2k]

Props to the guy for sticking it out. I enjoy his fitness material and bought his book. Moral of the story paintball is fun and a hobby. Earning 40k to play isn't worth it. You can do better doing almost anything else in America today.

[merked12]

Originally Posted by Trevor the great

He's in his 30s now, and you know what that means? Time to focus on your career. Not like he's on Impact making a 40k salary, he's probably retired for the same reason 95% of other players quit. Real life catches up, and you can't put in 100% anymore. Real life caught up with me 5 years ago when I was 21. Haven't touched a gun since. Now The most I can do is troll on pbn. That's life.

Lol, true. Although I still play a ton of rec.. it was weird for me being on a D3 team, surrounded by teenagers, feeling "old" at 23. Then I looked at my bank account, realized I was broke and could barely cover bills month to month despite a decent salary. It also dawned on me I was almost 7 yrs in college with still a yr to go for a Bach degree because I would be FT for a semester than PT for 3, because of paintball.

It was at that moment, I knew it was time to move on. Give all the tourney guys props for chasing it, but I'll take playing rec 2-3x a month, having a degree, house, retirement funds over being month-to-month and Internet famous. Props to those who are rocking it well into their 20's and 30's, though. I can't imagine how difficult it can be.

Wasn't Kemp the guy who overcame some pretty serious knee injuries years ago?

[dubv187]

Originally Posted by merked12

Wasn't Kemp the guy who overcame some pretty serious knee injuries years ago?

Ya he tore his ACL when he played for XSV

[inertstatic]

Originally Posted by merked12

Give all the tourney guys props for chasing it, but I'll take playing rec 2-3x a month, having a degree, house, retirement funds over being month-to-month and Internet famous. Props to those who are rocking it well into their 20's and 30's, though. I can't imagine how difficult it can be.

I never played tourney, but I agree with everything you said. Ill take all those things and play rec.

[GUN_YOU_DOWN_3]

Originally Posted by merked12

Lol, true. Although I still play a ton of rec.. it was weird for me being on a D3 team, surrounded by teenagers, feeling "old" at 23. Then I looked at my bank account, realized I was broke and could barely cover bills month to month despite a decent salary. It also dawned on me I was almost 7 yrs in college with still a yr to go for a Bach degree because I would be FT for a semester than PT for 3, because of paintball.

It was at that moment, I knew it was time to move on. Give all the tourney guys props for chasing it, but I'll take playing rec 2-3x a month, having a degree, house, retirement funds over being month-to-month and Internet famous. Props to those who are rocking it well into their 20's and 30's, though. I can't imagine how difficult it can be.

Wasn't Kemp the guy who overcame some pretty serious knee injuries years ago?

you got your head in the right place bro. Alot of the people i played with would sacrifice their jobs and and postpone exams just to make it to tournaments when it should be the other way around. They even would eat like once a day while at the events just because they didnt have enough money... f that lol. Hustle now, get your degrees or whatever, make a **** ton of money then play all the paintball you want. I played tournament ball for like 10 years but put it aside to become a doctor. Now i only play 1-2 times a month if that and zero tournaments at the moment but i know once i got my career settled i can afford to put a field in my backyard and play all the paintball i want and go to every event

[YOUNGSTOWN]

Solid player, nice guy, accomplished playing career.
Sad to see him hang it up.

[tomc727]

Originally Posted by GUN_YOU_DOWN_3

you got your head in the right place bro. Alot of the people i played with would sacrifice their jobs and and postpone exams just to make it to tournaments when it should be the other way around. They even would eat like once a day while at the events just because they didnt have enough money... f that lol. Hustle now, get your degrees or whatever, make a **** ton of money then play all the paintball you want. I played tournament ball for like 10 years but put it aside to become a doctor. Now i only play 1-2 times a month if that and zero tournaments at the moment but i know once i got my career settled i can afford to put a field in my backyard and play all the paintball i want and go to every event

Whats your specialty?

[paintballcapt062]

So Scott Kemp and Timmy Propst are taking the long walk to retirement this year.

Two solid players that made an impact on so many people in the sport are going to be missed greatly.