The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 25, 1993, Page 4, Image 4

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

jlwt is' ' , t' /&/ // ///:' f/tfj/J '//// '$//&/&'& v '?KMW ^ " to Paintball m< just fun an( for some st By JOHNNA GOODWIN Staff Writer COLUMBIA ? Splat! A paintball hits a tree in one of the various playing atmospheres available at Vanguard Paintball Games, which is frequented by USC students. Located in the woods, Vanguard offers sporting action for all ages, and beginners are welcome. Vanguard's owner, Dennis Day, said this open reception makes the sport unique. "The thing that amazes me about the sport itself, not only just here but worldwide, is that it's the largest group of friends in the world," Day said. "A person doesn't have to take a group. You can come by yourself, but by the end of the day, you've got a bunch of new friends." Since the business started in 1987, Day has had an increasing number of customers as there becomes an increasing awareness of the paintball sport. However, he said this doesn't always lead to big profits. "There have always been a steady flow we 339 "H ROVf SEAT ?T? d > AISLE SE2700 tax INC- *39 Nf ' P-tcE * bLE SEC 34QREFHWPS :? $2 I 1 flu? ** I L / SUNDAY, NOV. 21,1993 / 1:00 P.M. / GEORGIA DOME I ACCT.NO. 199750 I LEVEL fjPPEM GATE D I 339 NN *"2 11 / AISLE SEC-'. ROW SEAT / . ? / Nm <Z I Fal/* / 'W? "?.ts?onA0t* / 1 and a case o m ? a *" Atlanta ha icon uc TWo tickets to Atlai D< Saturday night lodgir ana a case o" Ai from i Or a Cott< from Atl Dallas, San Fr. lAIRI SSe* m for ? * ?>, <* ^ jffi; ' I , i j? f; I * 11fr ? W.s M&^W/S .W , ifek ' ? I > p?/e m *X|S #f' T* " I N > w L f| 1L II i n ? | ? ,}: ft' ' >re than '; I games " ** o udents *Players at of customers, but I can't say too muc about the money," Day said. "1 put moi into it than I ever get out of it. I get moi satisfaction out of watching people havir fun. Especially the ones who come in hei and worry about being shot and how feels and knowing that you might carry bruise for a few weeks or a welt." However, Day said after the initial fe of the first shot is over, customers come enjoy the game as well. "After they get their first shot, the come back in and have a smile from 01 ear to the other ear," he said. 'They a happy and are out there enjoying then selves and having a ball." For the beginner, or "newbie," Vanguai will provide the needed protection again paintball hits, which most players say a minimally painful. Day said the $12 field fee for the who day includes the rental of the gun and go: gles and a reduced fee for the first tank fi for the guns, which are powered by carbc dioxide. TAX IN A EXCHANG^f i rrl ay ftaway Weekend for two incl lanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowk avember 21, 1993 iq at the Atlanta Airport Marrio fPepsi-Cola for the weekend. ttaway Weekend for two incl nta Falcons vs. San Francisco ecember 11, 1993 \g at the Atlanta Airport Marrio f Dflrifi r1-i -frtr tl-in i i cpjrv,via IV^I LI 1*3 VV^CJIN^I IVJ. i NFL Letter Jacket Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas or Washington :>n Twill NFL "Starter" Cap anta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Kansas City, ancisco or Washington. 'oi^arriott. ^ 4711 Best Rd. College Park, GA 30337 (404) 766-7900 Carolina ?'^*rf- ' rjfe $ i w?^' "*$** %.., v \* * w? IIUh 1/ .. . A W; ^ 1-1 >. : Vanguard range from veteran marksme :h "I am what they call a 'newbie,'" s< re freshman Russ Jones. "Newbies genera re play with pump guns, and the first thin< ig felt was 'God, I can't believe these gu re are shooting paintballs at me.' It's a gr< it adrenaline rush." a For sophomore Jonathon Doggette, I rush is in the hunt. He said it takes at le ar an hour to prepare his gun before playing to "People say that it is a military v game but, it's not," he said. "It's like hu ;y ing people. It is more of a challenge th le hunting, and guys love guns. People colli re guns, but I actually get to use mine." i- Once a person gets started, there is ofl no turning back. For example, junior Gi rd Hudgins, who began playing five years a st in New York, said his love for the spi re has inspired him to try and get the Caroli Paintball Club recognized as a sports cl le on campus. g- "I decided that USC needed to ill exposed to paintball, so I organized a pi >n gram last year in which people went Vanguard to play," Hudgins said. "Th< -*V IJttS&F&i ~ i f'r; -' ; BS uding >oys t hotel uding 49ers FlPF: t hotel I ? J^gfRjW IjlLjp mV* &.\ IBJ?F ^msMt % jhs#3l Bt ? 1 IB' f jMiJp^f y ^ . ^1 *'~ 1 H MpPyW -Pjmft- - * Jy 1MMM|HMB^ ll? '^'i lff ' 44^pji r^f^^^^HHBBiP ^ Photo1 courtesy o n to 'newbies/ or beginning paintballers. lid are about 45 people or more interested lly being in the club. j I "If somebody comes in and thev real lys get hooked into the sport and want to g sat into playing, I'd rather them come out he several times and play with other people he guns," Day said. ast "Paintballers are a weird breed. Tb want other people to play, and they lo 'ar them their equipment, but they do that sc nt- person can decide on what type of gi ian they want to buy." set There are a variety of fields from whi to choose to play the game, en "The beginner field, or the first field th eg any player is going to come out here on, go named Antietam," Day said. "The fortres ort es on it are natural fortresses made out ina logs and nothing elaborate." ub Day said some of the most importa contributors to the game are the refere be who are hit the most. In Day's pregan ro- safety briefing, which is given before ea< to day of play, he warns that if a person sre unsure of whether it's safe to remove 1 / NITELITES AND Proudly Pres ^ Srssh B ftesk J Dress in 70's attire Receive Free Great Beer Spe WPOPTAWT ANNC -vy yot ZmMSk n a- . . ? .. vi I you need a place to store lr belongings while in the isell House or while in class? ill, we have your answer! i Russell House now has ]KERS located on the first or near the student ilboxes. t is 2 5 cents per use or have lr very own locker for ).00 per semester. I i more details, come to the >rmation desk in the Russell lse University Union. *- ' I I I Dennis Day in goggles, it's wise to watch the referees for signals. ly 'The referee's prime job on the field is ;et safety," Day said. "They are watching for re anything that could endanger a player as ' :'s far as goggles, to answer any questions, to do paint checks, to make sure that the ey game is played by the rules and if there is an any kind of cheating, to minimize it or take i a it out of the game." tin Even though it's only a game, those who play paintball as a sport and for recreation ch take it seriously. "It is a high tech game of tag that incorlat porates cowboys and Indians and cops and is robbers but with new technology as far as is- equipment goes," Hudgins said. "A majoriof ty of people play because of the adrenaline rush they get from their heart almost pop-. nt ping out of their chest because someone es can always take a shot at them. It's very ne thrilling." ch Anyone interested in the paintball club is can call Hudgins at 544-1213. For more lis information on Vanguard, call 786-4539. > WNOK L ent H ? 29's i?6? &J J/? I Uti 4 Admission FREE Pizza 7pm cial until 8pm 4 ^4 3 4 J 9 | 4 i 4 IUNCFWENT ?| |