So while Al's busy with the new website design I guess I'd better get on with it and post some more ballin footage.....
A lot of you probably keep hearing us both go on about the CPPS. Well it's our main UK league, and is head and shoulders above any other UK league we've ever played in. Last event we were impressed with how professional the whole thing was, and you'll be glad to know that the guys over at OKPBTV have got the whole thing on film for your viewing pleasure.
The footage is of all the different brackets so there are a lot of different levels of play but you can see that everyone really brought their game! The Elite division is where it's at though and damn where some of those games good to watch.
Anyway, enough from me. Enjoy.....
Showing posts with label Sandbaggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandbaggers. Show all posts
April 24, 2013
April 11, 2013
CPPS ROUND 1. THE SKINNY.
UK Paintball is dying on its feet.
BULLSHIT!! Whoever spread that rumour is an asshole!!
Our opinion may be biased as we're only playing the CPPS this year but if that one event is anything to go by, UK Paintball is very much alive. Screaming, kicking and punching alive.
Which was actually a problem for us. We'd kinda expected to come barging back into the scene after 6 or so years out and smash fools up. Oh how wrong we were. We did a bit of smashing, played some pretty badass ball but overall...we kinda sucked!! And we aren't too proud to admit it. We've always wanted to play against the best and there was always a huge gap between the best and the rest. That gap, for whatever reason just got a whole lot smaller.
The guys at the CPPS have done a staggering job of building a series that consistently delivers a level of events that we haven't seen for a long time. You'd play your standard UK events that were good at best, then hit up the Millenniums for something 'proper'. Which is probably why the talent gap was so big. Now, the CPPS is gifting us with a series that has given teams without a ton of money or sponsorship something big to play regularly. And it shows. From Elite right down to Division 5, you get to watch and play against teams that all seem to know what the deal is. All teams worked together, all teams seemed to know how to hold and shoot a gat, all players were running and gunning, shooting both handed and moving quickly up the field. Everyone knows their shit, which is super good to be a part of. And it can only get better.
This progress at lower levels means the top boys really gotta shine to show the difference, and after catching a handful of Elite games they really do. London Tigers have a fresh squad of ballers including the 04 legend Kyle 'milk tooth' Milton who play solid, fast and controlled ball. London Nexus always a joy to watch especially with another of our 04 compadres, Clint Moore, being on the top of his game these days. Birmingham Disruption are a bunch of great guys having fun who can turn a game around with pace and aggression and the new all star GI Sportz team; London Defiance had some real talent there with the likes of 2012 PSP rookie of the year, Jason Wheeler, showing us how the Russians do things. Really top drawer paintball from the Elite boys and having a long stint out of the game helps you appreciate it all the more. And, if I'm honest, it gives you something to aspire to.
So, the SandBaggers, how did we do? Our Div4 team came 3rd whilst we played in Div2 and came...5th. Sounds bad but once we'd realised that zero field knowledge, zero tactics and zero trigger time meant it was a pretty fair result. We won 3 and lost 2 games in the Race to 2 format, which was fun. We smashed our win games 2-0 in all three and lost 2-1 in both lose games. I lost count of the times we were eliminated for false starts or running out of bounds so we could have easily been top 3, but for now it is what it is. The teams we played just played better together, tighter, more controlled and more aware of their surroundings which we need to sort out. The teams below Elite all played good solid paintball. Which is awesome to see.
On to the event itself.
Good points: Amazing set up, great fields, staging areas were fully sorted for each team with plenty space, great viewing areas especially the mound and the refs made sure the rules were followed.
Bad points: Not many really. Not enough toilets I suppose, some dudes weren't stoked about the food but we brought our own, but other than that...nothing wrong.
Verdict: The guys at CPPS have genuinely built a series that really gives UK paintball a boost and a stage to shine on all levels. Worth every penny. The guys are chatty, honest and welcome criticism, the only egos there are the ones being shot on field. It's also a great event for appreciating and watching some good paintball, at all levels, whatever the age.
Our event could have gone better but we expected that. We knew we were rusty, still full of confidence in our skills and game but we definitely need a bit of freshening up.
Special thanks to Ledz and Planet Eclipse for all the incredible gear. From pants, shirts, gloves to pads, packs and more importantly our GEO3s, we had everything we needed to bring it. Also thanks to GI Sportz for paint and VForce Grillz.
Playing with the SandBaggers was a ton of fun. The guys on the team are buddies old and new and can really play ball. Thanks to those guys for having us join in the fun an here's to some great ballin' action for the rest of the season Won't be long before we're tearing fools up. It was great to have the first of the K2Kids with us, Jack, who's Chris' first born and LOVES his paintball. Won't be long before he's tearing up the d-side with his dad.
Event 1 done. Lessons learned. Good times had. More to follow. Until round two, we out!!
Check out CPPS on Facebook and for SandBaggers capers click the tab at the top of the page.
BULLSHIT!! Whoever spread that rumour is an asshole!!
Our opinion may be biased as we're only playing the CPPS this year but if that one event is anything to go by, UK Paintball is very much alive. Screaming, kicking and punching alive.
Which was actually a problem for us. We'd kinda expected to come barging back into the scene after 6 or so years out and smash fools up. Oh how wrong we were. We did a bit of smashing, played some pretty badass ball but overall...we kinda sucked!! And we aren't too proud to admit it. We've always wanted to play against the best and there was always a huge gap between the best and the rest. That gap, for whatever reason just got a whole lot smaller.
The guys at the CPPS have done a staggering job of building a series that consistently delivers a level of events that we haven't seen for a long time. You'd play your standard UK events that were good at best, then hit up the Millenniums for something 'proper'. Which is probably why the talent gap was so big. Now, the CPPS is gifting us with a series that has given teams without a ton of money or sponsorship something big to play regularly. And it shows. From Elite right down to Division 5, you get to watch and play against teams that all seem to know what the deal is. All teams worked together, all teams seemed to know how to hold and shoot a gat, all players were running and gunning, shooting both handed and moving quickly up the field. Everyone knows their shit, which is super good to be a part of. And it can only get better.
This progress at lower levels means the top boys really gotta shine to show the difference, and after catching a handful of Elite games they really do. London Tigers have a fresh squad of ballers including the 04 legend Kyle 'milk tooth' Milton who play solid, fast and controlled ball. London Nexus always a joy to watch especially with another of our 04 compadres, Clint Moore, being on the top of his game these days. Birmingham Disruption are a bunch of great guys having fun who can turn a game around with pace and aggression and the new all star GI Sportz team; London Defiance had some real talent there with the likes of 2012 PSP rookie of the year, Jason Wheeler, showing us how the Russians do things. Really top drawer paintball from the Elite boys and having a long stint out of the game helps you appreciate it all the more. And, if I'm honest, it gives you something to aspire to.
So, the SandBaggers, how did we do? Our Div4 team came 3rd whilst we played in Div2 and came...5th. Sounds bad but once we'd realised that zero field knowledge, zero tactics and zero trigger time meant it was a pretty fair result. We won 3 and lost 2 games in the Race to 2 format, which was fun. We smashed our win games 2-0 in all three and lost 2-1 in both lose games. I lost count of the times we were eliminated for false starts or running out of bounds so we could have easily been top 3, but for now it is what it is. The teams we played just played better together, tighter, more controlled and more aware of their surroundings which we need to sort out. The teams below Elite all played good solid paintball. Which is awesome to see.
On to the event itself.
Good points: Amazing set up, great fields, staging areas were fully sorted for each team with plenty space, great viewing areas especially the mound and the refs made sure the rules were followed.
Bad points: Not many really. Not enough toilets I suppose, some dudes weren't stoked about the food but we brought our own, but other than that...nothing wrong.
Verdict: The guys at CPPS have genuinely built a series that really gives UK paintball a boost and a stage to shine on all levels. Worth every penny. The guys are chatty, honest and welcome criticism, the only egos there are the ones being shot on field. It's also a great event for appreciating and watching some good paintball, at all levels, whatever the age.
Our event could have gone better but we expected that. We knew we were rusty, still full of confidence in our skills and game but we definitely need a bit of freshening up.
Special thanks to Ledz and Planet Eclipse for all the incredible gear. From pants, shirts, gloves to pads, packs and more importantly our GEO3s, we had everything we needed to bring it. Also thanks to GI Sportz for paint and VForce Grillz.
Playing with the SandBaggers was a ton of fun. The guys on the team are buddies old and new and can really play ball. Thanks to those guys for having us join in the fun an here's to some great ballin' action for the rest of the season Won't be long before we're tearing fools up. It was great to have the first of the K2Kids with us, Jack, who's Chris' first born and LOVES his paintball. Won't be long before he's tearing up the d-side with his dad.
Event 1 done. Lessons learned. Good times had. More to follow. Until round two, we out!!
Check out CPPS on Facebook and for SandBaggers capers click the tab at the top of the page.
April 7, 2013
STILL GOT IT?
Sort of. Well, yes but man were we rusty.
Of course, today was the start of the GFH homecoming tour at the first CPPS event of the season and it was AWESOME!!
We've actually championed the progress of the UK scene recently, even though others bash up on it and I tell ya something, we're right!! Don't get me wrong, we were under no illusions that we would turn up and just smash fools, we knew we had some work to do but after today, the standard is really high across the board. Most teams take it seriously and play some solid paintball. It's brilliant to see.
Anyway. This is a quick post to touch on the awesome day we had playing with the Sandbaggers and that we're all on. 150% back in the game!!
Full event report to follow but for now...it's on!!
Of course, today was the start of the GFH homecoming tour at the first CPPS event of the season and it was AWESOME!!
We've actually championed the progress of the UK scene recently, even though others bash up on it and I tell ya something, we're right!! Don't get me wrong, we were under no illusions that we would turn up and just smash fools, we knew we had some work to do but after today, the standard is really high across the board. Most teams take it seriously and play some solid paintball. It's brilliant to see.
Anyway. This is a quick post to touch on the awesome day we had playing with the Sandbaggers and that we're all on. 150% back in the game!!
Full event report to follow but for now...it's on!!
March 23, 2013
GIVING THE NEW MASKS A GRILLIN.
Everyone who plays ball has some sort of mask preference. Mine has always been the JT ProFlex. Since we first started playing it was the only mask I really wanted to use. It's kinda the mask that every baller could recognise even if you just saw the outline of it. It's the iconic paintball mask! Now Al never liked it? Something about it being too big for his pea head and too much fussy stuff like the soft ears and the large rubber chin piece. His joint was always the Dye Invision masks. They always felt too cramped for my head, and where a bit too much of a ghay design for me. Suited him perfectly for some reason.
So this season we where lucky enough to pick up V-Force as a sponsor. Now it's not like me to not want to wear anything that I got for free, but let me tell you, I was not looking forward to putting the Flex away! Al will tell you all about my whiny texts saying can't I just keep the flex, pwidy pweese!
See one of my problems was that back when we played EXL for Shockwave we where also sponsored by V-Force. They where a great sponsor and hooked us up with all the masks and lenses we could ever need, but at the time their flagship mask was the Profiler. It was actually a pretty good mask. Huge field of vision, lenses where straight forward to change compared to a Flex, and they were pretty bullet proof with the build quality. Problem was, I just didn't think they looked good with that massive fishbowl lens! Thing is, we all know paintball is 50% shooting fools and 50% looking good, so the Profiler just looked sooooo much worse than my trusty Flex. Yeah, a tinted lens helped, but it still didn't quite do it for me.
Now the one good thing about the Profiler was that for a whole year of full on EXL Xball, the mask performed perfectly. Never fogged once, hardly had to change a lens and it's still sat in my kitbag as a spare to the good ole Flex. This was the thing though. Once my sponsorship deal ended, I switched back to the mask I love. That is the true acid test.
Well now we're back in the V-Force stable, I was expecting to be a bit disappointed when I had to put the Flex to one side. Gotta say, they have really surprised me with the newest addition to the range......The V-Force Grill. This thing looks about a million times better than the Profiler! The lens has been shrunk but without cutting down on peripheral vision, and the whole feel and fit of the mask is better. It's close fitting, but not like the Dye masks that feel small. The lens can be changed in seconds by just ripping the strap off then popping it out. Even the foam round the lens can be whipped off and replaced if it gets to sweaty and stinky after those long 'Race Too' games.
Never thought I'd say it, but I'm actually a bit of a convert. It doesn't hurt that some of the top Pro teams out there are rocking them too like Impact, Heat, X-Factor and the always good to watch, Aftershock. This is the first mask I've actually considered as a replacement for my ageing Flex in forever! I've only used it a couple of times now, but it has all of the Profilers good points with non of the ugly looks. It looks totally bad ass, and throw in a smoke or mirrored lens and you'll look like a flippin serial killer at the field!
So there you have it, I might have finally found a new favorite mask. I guess time will tell, but you'll all know sooner or later as I'll always keep my Flex as a backup, it's just that that is all it might ever be now!!
Oh and the mask modding has already started. Couldn't help myself really. Every mask I have ever had has always had my K2 strap grafted onto it, and this thing is no exception. Double strapping it with the K2 was probably the easiest thing ever. Just push the new strap through the loops and your done! No sewing, or cutting. Just straight on and easily reversible. Now that's my kind of mod!!
So this season we where lucky enough to pick up V-Force as a sponsor. Now it's not like me to not want to wear anything that I got for free, but let me tell you, I was not looking forward to putting the Flex away! Al will tell you all about my whiny texts saying can't I just keep the flex, pwidy pweese!
See one of my problems was that back when we played EXL for Shockwave we where also sponsored by V-Force. They where a great sponsor and hooked us up with all the masks and lenses we could ever need, but at the time their flagship mask was the Profiler. It was actually a pretty good mask. Huge field of vision, lenses where straight forward to change compared to a Flex, and they were pretty bullet proof with the build quality. Problem was, I just didn't think they looked good with that massive fishbowl lens! Thing is, we all know paintball is 50% shooting fools and 50% looking good, so the Profiler just looked sooooo much worse than my trusty Flex. Yeah, a tinted lens helped, but it still didn't quite do it for me.
Now the one good thing about the Profiler was that for a whole year of full on EXL Xball, the mask performed perfectly. Never fogged once, hardly had to change a lens and it's still sat in my kitbag as a spare to the good ole Flex. This was the thing though. Once my sponsorship deal ended, I switched back to the mask I love. That is the true acid test.
Well now we're back in the V-Force stable, I was expecting to be a bit disappointed when I had to put the Flex to one side. Gotta say, they have really surprised me with the newest addition to the range......The V-Force Grill. This thing looks about a million times better than the Profiler! The lens has been shrunk but without cutting down on peripheral vision, and the whole feel and fit of the mask is better. It's close fitting, but not like the Dye masks that feel small. The lens can be changed in seconds by just ripping the strap off then popping it out. Even the foam round the lens can be whipped off and replaced if it gets to sweaty and stinky after those long 'Race Too' games.
So there you have it, I might have finally found a new favorite mask. I guess time will tell, but you'll all know sooner or later as I'll always keep my Flex as a backup, it's just that that is all it might ever be now!!
Oh and the mask modding has already started. Couldn't help myself really. Every mask I have ever had has always had my K2 strap grafted onto it, and this thing is no exception. Double strapping it with the K2 was probably the easiest thing ever. Just push the new strap through the loops and your done! No sewing, or cutting. Just straight on and easily reversible. Now that's my kind of mod!!
March 20, 2013
GFH JOIN THE OPERATION.
2013 is gonna be a good year for paintball. Not just because of the amazing start to the PSP season but, closer to home, the GFH will be playing out the CPPS Series in the UK with Operation Sandbaggers.
For those who don't know, Operation Sandbaggers is an Eclipse Works Team made up of awesome ballers that either can't commit to full time pro balling for work or family reasons and other kick ass ballers who just wanna have a good time. So who better to join their ranks than the GFH? I know, that's what we thought.
A huge thanks to Planet Eclipse and Ledz for having us on board, plus, let's be honest it's good to be ripping it up with Eclipse's latest kit again and the boys.
The Sandbaggers will be playing at a number of UK events to have a strong UK presence (this year is gonna be awesome for UK balling) and have already placed well in both the northern and Southern legs of the UWL (Ultimate Woodsball League). Next stop CPPS for some fun and games and we plan on a serious GFH FEAST!! The buffet is now open!!
Check out the Operation Sandbaggers Facebook for regular updates and general ridiculousness. You might even learn something...no, actually you won't, but have a look anyway.
And remember kids, Baggin' ain't easy.
For those who don't know, Operation Sandbaggers is an Eclipse Works Team made up of awesome ballers that either can't commit to full time pro balling for work or family reasons and other kick ass ballers who just wanna have a good time. So who better to join their ranks than the GFH? I know, that's what we thought.
A huge thanks to Planet Eclipse and Ledz for having us on board, plus, let's be honest it's good to be ripping it up with Eclipse's latest kit again and the boys.
The Sandbaggers will be playing at a number of UK events to have a strong UK presence (this year is gonna be awesome for UK balling) and have already placed well in both the northern and Southern legs of the UWL (Ultimate Woodsball League). Next stop CPPS for some fun and games and we plan on a serious GFH FEAST!! The buffet is now open!!
Check out the Operation Sandbaggers Facebook for regular updates and general ridiculousness. You might even learn something...no, actually you won't, but have a look anyway.
And remember kids, Baggin' ain't easy.
March 19, 2013
GFH CALLED UP FOR DUTY.
Got an awesome Facebook update today. ledz from Planet Eclipse has secretly been trying to get us to play some ball with him for over 10 years now! We finally crumbled and agreed to give him a hand by signing on to the Sandbaggers roster for this years CPPS series here in the UK.
He hit us up today with some new name patches for our Eclipse HDE playing tops. Guess now he's given us some free shit we should at least stick around for a bit..... Especially as Al has done his usual crazy designer thing of completely overhauling the latest Sandbaggers jerseys. Just wait till you get a load of them!!
He hit us up today with some new name patches for our Eclipse HDE playing tops. Guess now he's given us some free shit we should at least stick around for a bit..... Especially as Al has done his usual crazy designer thing of completely overhauling the latest Sandbaggers jerseys. Just wait till you get a load of them!!
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