Paintball Unite real deal for family fun
Good clean entertainment for the family, and good exercise to boot. This is the appeal of playing paintball, explains Peter Valster of Paintball Unite.
The paintball and airsoft field where they host their paintball games is located across from Elmswood on the R37/Lydenburg Road almost exactly 14km outside Nelspruit.
Valster explained how small and shy he had been as a child, and how he found a perfect match in the friendly combat game. “To play well, you need three things: teamwork, skills and fitness.” That being said, people all over the world – even with disabilities – play the game.
While it has its origin in war games, paintball is not dangerous. He notes that the harm that has come to people has been from irresponsible behaviour.
When Valster treated this reporter to a game, he pressed the issue of safety, as he does with all participants. Under no circumstances may you remove your visor while on the field. And overshooting can get you kicked out of a game.
“If you shoot someone, and they know they’ve been hit, and you know they’ve been hit, stop hitting the person. There is absolutely no place for bullies in this game.”
If you are hit, you surrender by holding up your marker, return to your home base and re-enter the game from there. It ends once a team has captured the flag or, in our case, someone’s balls are finished.
Paintball Unite offers three different kinds of games: the one is in short grass with obstacles like tyres resulting in more of a running game.
Another is played in long grass. The crouching in the grass, stalking your opponent and running involved is quite a workout. The third is a tactical or scenario game, with strict rules and goals also known as MilSim.
Valster guards the game’s reputation feverishly. With Paintball Unite, they aim to unite the players in the Lowveld, giving them a professional space in which to play, and also to grow the game by getting more people involved.
Rentals cost R170 per person to play, and all gear is included if don’t have your own. Valster says their experience shows five people in a team to be a happy medium. Children from age 10 can play.
Enquiries: Peter Valster on 072-942-8525 or petervalster@yahoo.com to book a game.
