Tomball Magnolia Potpourri - Opinion
OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE: Fear of splat ends with a real blast
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| Tana Ross, middle, on the playing field at Quinn Road 1-Paintball Park. |
By TANA ROSS
Most of you know by now that this is the third column in a series The Potpourri launched this summer, “Out of Our Comfort Zone,” designed to share personal experiences with you.
What many of you may not know, is that I am the mother of grown, adult children and having raised a house full of boys and one girl, I am pretty much game for anything. I understand personal comfort is just something to be overcome.
But when I was assigned to participate in a paintball game, the zone it put me out of was my personal comfort zone for dignity. I simply could not imagine donning the garb and gear needed for such a game, and looking anything but ridiculous — you be the judge. And as I explained to Rick Hood of Tomball’s Quinn Road Park 1-Pintball, I have never been a fan of “splat” in any form.
On July 3 when I paid a visit to the Tomball paintball park, some of my fears were realized and others were dispelled. All in all it was indeed a good experience and I plan to take my family the day after Thanksgiving, which is a mandatory at-home holiday for my clan, but that is another column.
Anyone who possesses a fiber of competition in their being will want to play a paintball game at least once. I was surprised to hear my heart actually thumping inside my chest when the ref said, “Go, go, go,” as I eyed the field for my strategy. I was amazed how excited I was toting my 186-foot a second air gun and looking for a target.
While the gun is a cinch to master, the gear is something that takes getting used to. Holding my automatic air gun with camo overalls, an ammo belt, protective vest and full-face goggles on, I wondered if I didn’t look a little like Patty Hearst of the 1974 bank robbery fame. But she got to wear a cute barret and I was wearing a face mask; nothing flattering about it. At least Patty was brainwashed by the Symbionese Liberation Army whereas I was standing in the mid-day sun getting ready to shoot at Diego and his buddies who were celebrating his 10th birthday, all of my own choosing.
I’ve got to say when the games began I was really treated well by my team members Scott and DJ. In fact they were so good flanking the left and right that all I had to do was stay out of their way running up the middle – even friendly fire will put you out of the game.
By the third game I was feeling good about my decision to rush the opposing team. Feeling good that is right up to the moment I was pinged on the head by what felt like a giant marble. But being shot by Hector Garcia, a 9-year veteran of the National Guard, was okay though; at least I can say I was taken out by one of the best.
I found the folks at Quinn Road Park 1-Paintball to be genuinely nice. Area manager Bobby Goedecke was there to greet me and Park Manager Ryan Steller and his staff were a great help with all the gear they provided. They are big on safety at the park and no alcohol or cursing is allowed on the premises. I noticed young men from age 10 to 20 hanging out at the office while I was there and it seemed to me they were all having good clean fun despite the object of the game.
Goedecke told me they have adopted the stretch of Quinn Road, north of Zion Road, that dead-ends at the park and try to keep it clean of litter. Although the paintball park has 50 acres, they only use about eight acres, leaving a wooded margin around the park and plenty of room for overflow parking. All in all it seems they are good neighbors and the Quinn Road crew certainly helped me find out that my fear of splat was unfounded, I ended up having a blast of a Friday afternoon. For more information check out their web site at www.1pb.com.
Quinn Road 1-Paintball Park
Location: 31223 Quinn Road in Tomball.
What: Paintball park with 11 playing fields including tournament airball, speedball and woods.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday , 2 p.m. to dusk; Saturday, 8 a.m. to dusk; Mondays by appointment only.
Equipment: Available to rent, check web site for description and prices.
Rates: Full day with unlimited air - $26;half day pass with unlimited air - $19; after school special with unlimited air - $9.95, 3pm to closing, valid on school days only.
Phone: 281-255-3500
Best tip: Wear a cap and wear contacts rather than glasses to accommodate head gear/goggles..
What many of you may not know, is that I am the mother of grown, adult children and having raised a house full of boys and one girl, I am pretty much game for anything. I understand personal comfort is just something to be overcome.
But when I was assigned to participate in a paintball game, the zone it put me out of was my personal comfort zone for dignity. I simply could not imagine donning the garb and gear needed for such a game, and looking anything but ridiculous — you be the judge. And as I explained to Rick Hood of Tomball’s Quinn Road Park 1-Pintball, I have never been a fan of “splat” in any form.
On July 3 when I paid a visit to the Tomball paintball park, some of my fears were realized and others were dispelled. All in all it was indeed a good experience and I plan to take my family the day after Thanksgiving, which is a mandatory at-home holiday for my clan, but that is another column.
Anyone who possesses a fiber of competition in their being will want to play a paintball game at least once. I was surprised to hear my heart actually thumping inside my chest when the ref said, “Go, go, go,” as I eyed the field for my strategy. I was amazed how excited I was toting my 186-foot a second air gun and looking for a target.
While the gun is a cinch to master, the gear is something that takes getting used to. Holding my automatic air gun with camo overalls, an ammo belt, protective vest and full-face goggles on, I wondered if I didn’t look a little like Patty Hearst of the 1974 bank robbery fame. But she got to wear a cute barret and I was wearing a face mask; nothing flattering about it. At least Patty was brainwashed by the Symbionese Liberation Army whereas I was standing in the mid-day sun getting ready to shoot at Diego and his buddies who were celebrating his 10th birthday, all of my own choosing.
I’ve got to say when the games began I was really treated well by my team members Scott and DJ. In fact they were so good flanking the left and right that all I had to do was stay out of their way running up the middle – even friendly fire will put you out of the game.
By the third game I was feeling good about my decision to rush the opposing team. Feeling good that is right up to the moment I was pinged on the head by what felt like a giant marble. But being shot by Hector Garcia, a 9-year veteran of the National Guard, was okay though; at least I can say I was taken out by one of the best.
I found the folks at Quinn Road Park 1-Paintball to be genuinely nice. Area manager Bobby Goedecke was there to greet me and Park Manager Ryan Steller and his staff were a great help with all the gear they provided. They are big on safety at the park and no alcohol or cursing is allowed on the premises. I noticed young men from age 10 to 20 hanging out at the office while I was there and it seemed to me they were all having good clean fun despite the object of the game.
Goedecke told me they have adopted the stretch of Quinn Road, north of Zion Road, that dead-ends at the park and try to keep it clean of litter. Although the paintball park has 50 acres, they only use about eight acres, leaving a wooded margin around the park and plenty of room for overflow parking. All in all it seems they are good neighbors and the Quinn Road crew certainly helped me find out that my fear of splat was unfounded, I ended up having a blast of a Friday afternoon. For more information check out their web site at www.1pb.com.
Quinn Road 1-Paintball Park
Location: 31223 Quinn Road in Tomball.
What: Paintball park with 11 playing fields including tournament airball, speedball and woods.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday , 2 p.m. to dusk; Saturday, 8 a.m. to dusk; Mondays by appointment only.
Equipment: Available to rent, check web site for description and prices.
Rates: Full day with unlimited air - $26;half day pass with unlimited air - $19; after school special with unlimited air - $9.95, 3pm to closing, valid on school days only.
Phone: 281-255-3500
Best tip: Wear a cap and wear contacts rather than glasses to accommodate head gear/goggles..
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