So ok, I admit it: I’m not the most “extreme” person in the world.

There are certain sports whose mere mention almost makes me douse my drawers. Skydiving, bungee jumping, bear wrestling…all of those things make me shiver. I longed to find a sport that was exciting, adrenaline inducing, and great fun that wouldn’t have me shaking in my boots. Well I think I’ve found it. Paintball, you are my new best friend.

A couple days ago, Tasha and I took a trip out to Hill13 just outside of Austin, TX. We hooked up with the manager, Kevin, and one of the course referees, Colin. They proceeded to school us in the basics of the sports, some of the misconceptions that people have about it, and got us started on the road to Paintball Perdition.

One of the first things they hammered into our heads set the tone for the rest of the day: Safety, safety, safety! Because paintball is such a fast paced, high impact sport there is a lot of opportunity for injury if you don’t follow the safety procedures that have been set in place. First of all, use the correct safety gear.

The basic gear in paintball consists of a set of face covering goggles and a paintball gun. Yes, gun.

Let’s step aside here quickly touch on one of the biggest myths about paintball: that it promotes violent behavior and gun abuse. On the contrary. The paintball arena is a place where people can go to get fit, let off some steam, and let loose some aggression that might otherwise be let loose out in the real world. When people have outlets for their aggression, those feelings are less likely to bottle up inside and come out in public where they can really hurt someone. I’m no psychologist, but hey, that’s my take on it. Also, paintball promotes teamwork, strategy, and comradery. I saw 12 year olds to 60 year olds from all races and ethnicities working together to accomplish their goals. Where else do you see that?

Anyway, back to gear! There are many types of guns to choose from, from 1 shot to semi-automatic, some guns can fire rounds surpassing 18 rounds per second easily. You can spend anywhere from $120 to over $2000 on a paintball gun. Fortunately most arenas, including our favorite, Hill 13, have gear for rental. You’ll also need paint and air for your gun as well. Again, these things are available at most arenas. After the basics, you can get body armor, upgrade your guns, get different kinds of guns(pistols, grenade launchers, bazookas, you name it!), and so on…

Once Tasha and I were fitted with a mask and gun, we were ready to take the field. Check out Tasha and I laying waste to each other in the next part of the story on Wednesday!