Paintball Magazine April Issue 2018 | Page 108

Tom Cole RUSSELL: Good partnerships are based on recognizing and partnering with the strongest individuals to raise the overall performance of those involved. Tom’s passion for the sport is indisputable; his depth of knowledge and experience is among the highest in the sport. Coupled with his reputation for fair play and dedication to player satisfaction, Tom is the ideal candidate for a league partnership. P.M: Tell us about Classic Paintball Promotions Group. Long and short term goals, info on upcoming evens (2019), venues, etc. TIM: The goal of the Classic Paintball Promotions Group is to increase awareness of the Classic paintball format while providing teams a highly competitive, structured and organized event for 0108 paintball.media magazine competition. Heading into 2019, we plan to introduce some more universal rules and scoring systems that can be better managed and understood. We’re currently in discussions with numerous fields, field owners/managers and potential promoters in hopes of finding the best options to work with for our upcoming season schedule. Long term, I hope to see the Classic format become viewed as a high-end tournament. The Classic paintball format allows a wide array of demographics to compete at the tournament level. Entry-level players can understand and associate with the games being played because there is a direct correlation between the fields being used for recreational play and for tournament play. Often, the fields for rec. and Classic tournaments are the same. So, I foresee an outlet for many different kinds of players, regardless of age, size, or physical abilities. I don’t think the Classic format should be viewed as a competitor to X Ball or create some division, but merely an additive to the paintball industry and tournament scene. RUSSELL: The future of the Classic format relies upon its promotion, presentation and representation. The central mission of Classic Paintball Promotions Group is to see the standardization of the Classic Format in terms of rules, venues and player experiences. We will be working with fields, promoters, and industry influencers to deliver the Classic Format with the professionalism, organization and transparency that is required of a successful sports league in today’s market. Both in the short and long term, our goal is to provide the player with a consistent experience worthy of their commitment.