Paintball Magazine Paintball Magazine Nov 2019 Issue | Page 87

It’s a Saturday in October and Aftershock
is dominating pro paintball games in the
woods. They are undefeated heading into
their last two games of the preliminary
rounds. Their rivals, the All Americans won
their first six games losing no more than
six of their ten players in any one game.
As I stand on the field, camera in hand,
I scan the sidelines just before the “ten
second” warning and see Renick Miller,
Dirk Gadberry, Frank Connell and Kevin
Donaldson. No, this is not the 1993 NPPL
World Cup. It’s the new International
Classic Paintball League (ICPL) season
ending event for 2019. The ICPL is run
by the National Xball League (NXL), the
world’s largest tournament series with
pro/am leagues in the US and Europe.
“shoot, shoot, shoot… kill, kill, kill, win,
win, win… Ironmen” as they are amping
up to play the hybrid woods/Hyperball
field. I see league President part deux,
Tom Cole milling about in the staging
area. I hear the old but familiar sounds
of Autocockers in the woods. I check my
camera to make sure I’ve loaded a roll of
film and head to the woods—ok I made
that part up.
The ICPL’s finale event, held in Lakeland,
Florida at Central Florida Paintball, a
legendary field in its own right took place
October 11-13. The event featured 19
Pro ten-man teams (Scottsdale Elevation
dropped out after the first event) as well
as 14 Amateur ten-man teams. Ten teams
also entered the Open five-man portion
The event feels old… in a good way. I hear of the event.
www.paintball.media
087