Paintball 06 — Must See

Most of the rules, bunker shapes, and firing modes we see today were forged in the crucible of 2006. It wasn't just a season. It was a high-velocity renaissance. Feature prepared for: Paintball Retrospective Series

Paintball 2: The Next Wave , released on PlayStation in 2005, still had a strong multiplayer following in 2006, bridging the gap for kids who couldn't afford a $1,200 marker. Looking back, 2006 was the "dot-com bubble" of paintball. Fields were packed on weekends. Major sports networks (like ESPN2, albeit at 2 AM) occasionally aired the NPPL finals. Then came the 2008 recession. paintball 06

goggle system was the undisputed king. Its soft, rubbery bottom (the "flex") allowed players to yell—or talk trash—without muffling their voice. Wearing a rare "clear" or "tiger stripe" Proflex bottom in 2006 was the equivalent of wearing limited-edition Jordans. Most of the rules, bunker shapes, and firing

But for those who were there, 2006 represents a specific smell: HPA (high-pressure air) mixed with grass and the faint acrid scent of cheap Walmart paint. It was a time when a 17-year-old with a part-time job could buy a used Ion, throw a drop-forward on it, and feel like a pro. Major sports networks (like ESPN2, albeit at 2