THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607120254
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Business
SOURCE: BY MARGO MATEAS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
These people, out in the woods and cloaked in concealing layers of sweat and combat fatigues, are trying to shoot each other.
Crouched in a cluster of trees, battle newcomer Chris Smith squints and wipes the dirt from his facemask. ``It's hard to see,'' he complains, then jumps aside to dodge a bullet.
No luck. A large, bright-blue stain spreads across his leg. The resignation of death washes over his face.
Fortunately for him and the other ``weekend warriors'' gathering to play paramilitary games in the woods of Suffolk, the bullet is made of gel and filled with water-soluble paint.
Welcome to paintball, a craze that is sweeping the nation in a frenzy as formidable as the guns used to propel the paint balls toward their targets. Corporate America is discovering Paintball as a way for employees not only to blow off stream, but to build partnerships as well.
``Last month, Nations Securities brought a group of high-ranking executives to run around in the woods and shoot each other,'' Bobby Weeks says with a grin.
``They had a blast. They got to shoot the boss, which is what everybody wants to do.''
Valley Foods brings the entire company out twice a year to play. Other Hampton Roads companies are following suit and booking outings.
On an average weekend, between 100 and 150 people trek to the outlands to be placed on two teams and play military-style skirmishes such as Defend the Fort. Games run from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Teams decide strategy, but survival skills are up to the individual player. Referees keep an eye out for painted players, who are then retired until the next game starts.
Bobby Jr. and Jason Weeks, owners of Action Town Sports on Holland Road in Suffolk, estimate they sell about 400,000 pounds of paintballs a year, making them the largest dealer in the Tri-State area.
The store is under contract with the Army to provide a paintball facility at Fort Eustis and Fort Monroe and is working with Navy Welfare and Recreation to provide similar services. The Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown recently rented 100 paintball guns and equipment for a night exercise.
``Paintball is safe, and it offers a more realistic form of play than laser tag,'' Bobby explains. ``You know when you get hit with a paintball, but it doesn't hurt.'' The paint is biodegradable and does not stain or linger in the environment, he adds.
The brothers opened the paintball facility in 1990. Response to their services was so great that they remodeled in June 1992, and quadrupled the size. Two months ago, Jason branched out into motocross and watercraft accessories and replacement parts.
For both men, going into business was a way to get through the red tape that hounded them as consumers.
``Jason and I got into paintball in college,'' Bobby explains. ``The problem was that they were always booked three months in advance.'' Their frustration led them to discuss the possibility of going into the business for themselves.
A loan from their father, owner of R.P. Weeks Construction of Suffolk, provided the operating capital.
There are also plans to bring paintball to next year's PeanutFest in a large tent that will allow spectators to see paintball in action.
In the meantime, camouflaged citizens will continue to cavort at the site. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Employee Jason Stone models head gear at Action Town Sports.
WANT TO PLAY?
Action Town Sports
1528 Holland Road, Suffolk
539-3756 by CNB