PaintballX3 Magazine November 2013 Issue | Page 60

interview
What changes do you see coming for next
season?
Lots. Paintball Promotions Inc will continue
to run events in 2014 with the same staff, refs,
sponsors, Pro teams but it will not be called
NPPL. It will now be called, American Paintball League.

Less sponsorship, economy is still rebounding, less stores, less regional leagues, etc etc.

How about paintball in general?
I think paintball in general is good. Those
players that would have moved over to tournament play are now playing walk on rec ball.
They still have expensive equipment and hang
After speaking to all the industry stakeholders out with a group or team but don’t seem to
it was time to re-group and start fresh. We all want to play on the airball fields.
have fond memories of the NPPL, but with
the amount of changes necessary to continue I think people need to understand that painton with National Level events it made sense
ball is different now. Not necessarily better or
to use a new name and new outlook. It’s unworse, just different. You have to adapt with
fair to compare NPPL 2013 with NPPL 2006
the times and adjust with what you’re given.
and it would be unfair to say the “new” NPPL.
The landscape is different and now the tourTell us about your fields?
nament scene will be different.
Camp Pendleton is the most well known.
There has been a field at CP for over 15 years
The American Paintball League will have a
now. I took it over 5 years ago and rebuilt it
new format, new rules, new venues, new priz- at our current location in 2010. Tournament
es, and most importantly a new vision with a
side has 4 turf fields with belachers, understrong plan.
ground air and pits. I built it like I built an
event but in a permanent fashion.
That plan starts with the players and teams.
It’s time to listen and support the local paint- The recreational side has 8 large theme fields
ball scene and local paintball fields. The
including a 8500sq ft Castle. We have 3 large
American Paintball League’s goal is not to be
Airsoft fields, a Kid Splat arena for 6-10yr
the biggest in the world. The goal is to provide olds, a zip line, coconut tree climb and 1500sq
an affordable, quality event series that goes
ft Pro Shop.
back to our roots and support the lifeline of
our industry, paintball fields.
Tell us about Shawn Walker... your family,
your hobbies, anything you want...
Is the NPPL considering a multi-disclipline
I have a beautiful wife, Rufina and 4 great
format in the future, like the Valken Cup this kids. Matt is 7, Maggie is 5, Andy is 3 and
year?
Cooper is 3 months. She and I have been
No. The APL will be a 5-man Millennium
married over 10 years now and she accepts
Style Race format with no coaching.
my addiction to paintball (usually). My life is
and has been for 20 years now, paintball.
Do you think tournament paintball in general
is in a good place?
That’s a tough one. I don’t necessarily think its
in a bad place, but its not close to what it once
was. There are less overall teams playing tournament paintball due to a variety of reasons.

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