sporting aspirations?

[mat1971]

Hi all,
I have done paintballing a few times over the years,(turn up and hire stuff).
Watching paintball tv the other day I noticed that paintball seems to be promoting itself as a growing sport open to all,i thought wow,that would be great,turn up at a club, have a chat,hire some kit firstly then after a couple of weeks buy my own kit,turn up regularly pay memberships and after a while join some tournaments.
However,looking at the web,there are no club structures just corporate venues who mostly let you only use their equipment.
How can I spend a grand or more on a nice new marker etc when most venues wouldnt touch me with a bargepole.
If I wanted to start field target shooting or archery or join a tenpin bowling club there would be plenty of clubs and information on how to join a local club.
So my question is how can paintball ever become a successful sport when there seems to be little or no clubs/venues,under a governing body that promote it as a proper joinable sport just a corporate hen/stag party activity.
I apologies if I have got it wrong and there are plenty of clubs,i just cant find them?

 

[Thorpe]

Perhaps you have been looking in the wrong place? Loads of woodland sites run walk-on days where you can use your own gear, and the CPPS/Bricketwood sites regularly hold open training sessions where you turn up with or without a team and play as many games as your paint lasts for.

If you post up where abouts you are in the country, you'll no doubt be given good advice as to your nearest site for either woodland or tournament play.

 

[mat1971]

Thanks..i live in south wales

 

[Tom]

The following thread summarises the costs of paintball but also describes a few of your options:
http://p8ntballer-forums.com/threads/what-paintball-costs.153010/

You have corporate (AKA punter paintball) where you turn up, rent and play
The next step is usualy your own gear and walkons
Then people stick to that or go in the scenario/event direction or tournament style

I cant help you much more with tournament style other than whats in the costs thread, but youre on the right forum to find out

If you're commited to paintball then join the UKPSF
http://ukpsf.com/
(There's actualy a slim chance of getting paintball recognised as an official sport - but that will bever happen until enough people actualy join the recognised body)

Look these up, browse the forum and tell us more about yourself and paintball interests