Getting Started...

Hello everyone and welcome to From the Dorito Tape, a tournament paintball centric blog written by a guy who stands on the sideline, a ref. Yeah, I know, how lame right? Well, if you're looking for a unique point of view on the world of tournament paintball (one pov being that paintball would be a lot better at times without players) and for some decent laughs, then by all means, keep reading.

A quick introduction: I started playing paintball in 2001 and since then it has consumed my soul. At first it was for fun and to run around with my friends on Saturdays. I never had any plans of taking it further but that was till I saw Push, a movie about the 1999 NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida, and was introduced to the world of tournament paintball. When the movie had finished, a sense of awe had overwhelmed me upon realization that paintball was more than just a fun game with friends, it was a geniune (at least in my eyes) sport rife with intense competitions and tougher competitors...it was just what I wanted.

In 2002, I started working as a referee at the local paintball field, Twisted Texas, as a means to pay for my budding addiction. I even skipped my senior prom to run the field and pay for my first mid-range gun purchase, a Smart Parts Impulse. I continued to play as much as possible with the sole determination to play at the highest level I possibly could. In August of that year I left home to go to school at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, with the intent of continuing to play and possibly even starting a team to compete for Auburn. Little did I know how awful paintball in the state of Alabama was. The level of play and condition of the fields were just pathetic and my passion felt threatened. Luckily, Atlanta, GA is only a hundred miles or so from Auburn and for me, that was a justifiable distance to pursue what I loved most.

Paintball in Atlanta was leaps and bounds ahead of the state of Alabama and on top of that the style of play in Atlanta was exactly what I was looking for; fast, aggressive and dirty. I played in and around the Atlanta area for the next four years but never got to play a national tournament due to a conflict with school. Lame, I know, but I was still optimistic that I would be able to pursue my goal to play at the national level. It was also during this time I met Tim Schroepfer, the ref coordinator for Paintball Sports Promotions.

In 2006, I graduated from Auburn, packed my stuff and headed back home to Houston. When I arrived back home I made a grim realization that I had no job, no money, no team and a nonfunctioning gun. However, I was still intent on staying involved in paintball no matter what. Thankfully, a PSP referee clinic was held at Paintball Zone where I was able to be certified as a ref and convince Tim to let me work the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Open.

It was at MAO where I met those that would be some of my best friends; Amos, Travis, Diaz, Drew and Pig Pen. These guys make working the events worth it and the fun I have with them makes me hate the fact that the events are only five days long. Also at this event, after the first day I was moved up to the Open field and I had the opportunity to ref the first NXL All-Star game. Since then I've been reffing primarily Open/D1 and haven't looked back. Some of the most fun I've had has been being a referee for PSP and I intend to share to share it with all of you who read this blog.

Already posted are some of my event reviews from the previous season and the start of the current season. Also be on the lookout for commentaries regarding the paintball world as a whole. Enjoy!