Anyone who has ever played paintball knows that it hurts when you get hit - but chances are they will tell you the adrenaline rush makes it all worthwhile.
Bay of Plenty Paintball Club members are addicted to the high-speed version of the game, known as speed ball or x-ball, and regularly
compete in tournaments across the country.
Club spokesman Steve McTainsh says speed ball involves a lot of strategy, agility and team work.
"It's like a game of tag. We play on a field about 40m by 30m and there are five players on each team. You start at opposite ends to one another and you have five minutes to eliminate the other team, grab the flag from the middle and take it down your opposition's end of the field."
This of course, has to be done while hundreds of paintballs fly through the air at tremendous speed. Paintball markers fire at a rate of 14 balls per second.
"When you play paintball the adrenaline is pumping. You're on an equal par with your enemy and it's a huge amount of fun."
Large inflatable "barricades" are positioned around the field for players to hide behind while they stalk their opposition.
"You have to run, dive, slide and crawl around the barricades to get there.
"When we're playing in a tournament we'll spend half a day walking the field beforehand to work out who is going to go where."
Mr McTainsh says paintball pellets do sting when they hit the body, and players must wear a specially-designed face mask to protect themselves during a game.
"It does hurt but that's a good thing. Otherwise you don't care about whether you get hit or not.
"It's the sort of sport that if you come along to play you'll either love it or hate it. There's no in between."
Mr McTainsh says the club was originally founded in 2005 but was re-launched in 2009 after it petered out.
Club members currently include teenagers through to players aged in their 40s. You must be at least 18 years-old to own a paintball marker, and players under 16 have to supervised.
A permanent paintball area is now being developed in the TECT All Terrain Park and the club hopes to move to its new home within the next six months.
"If people would like to come and give it a go we are more than happy to teach them how to play and lend them some gear to get started," Mr McTainsh says.
And far from being a male-orientated sport, the club boasts two all-female teams who "play just as hard as the guys if not harder".
"One guy who wanted to join our club said his wife wasn't happy about it and asked if she could come along one Sunday. Now she's the captain of one of our teams."
Traditional paintball, also known as bush ball, is played while wearing camouflage gear on a much bigger field. "But speed ball has netting all around the field of play so it's also a great spectator sport. It's a bit like watching a game of rugby sevens."
THE DETAILS
Name: Bay of Plenty Paintball Club
Number of Members: 60
Established: 2005
Meeting times: Every second Sunday at The Valley Outdoor Centre, Merrick Rd, Pyes Pa. Contact Steve McTainsh 021 455616 email boppaintballclub@gmail.com
Anyone who has ever played paintball knows that it hurts when you get hit - but chances are they will tell you the adrenaline rush makes it all worthwhile.
Bay of Plenty Paintball Club members are addicted to the high-speed version of the game, known as speed ball or x-ball, and regularly
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