Disembarking his recent flight into Moscow last week, friend and fellow paintball photographer Mr. Gary Baum hit the ground running to experience the wide world of paintball such as it is in Russia. Russian paintball company Action Paintball Games rolled out the red carpet for Gary supplying him a driver, translator and tour guide to insure our favorite paintball photographer had perhaps one of the most memorable moments of his life. Amongst some of Gary’s first stops on his whirlwind tour included The Russian Space Museum and the cold war era Russian Federation Air Force Museum at Monino. The Russians had done their homework already knowing of Gary’s keen interest in planes. The tour guide also included a quick tour of 4-5 paintball fields all of which were very well tended Gary noted. Driving around Moscow itself he was somewhat surprised at the numerous BMW’s, Mercedes and other very high end vehicles as being very commonplace unlike some big cities here in North America.
It was Kiril, Team Captain for Russian Legion that swooped in early the next morning to scoop Gary up and cart him off to the renowned Russian Legion training facility. Gary is still amazed as he recounted to me how the facility, located approximately 5 miles from the Red Square in a semi industrial area, was unlike anything he had ever seen. The facility itself sports a two story building wherein lies offices, locker rooms, a store and even a kitchen with a restaurant/cafeteria. As well the complex houses three paintball fields two of which are totally enclosed in bubbles to allow for practice during the winter months, one of which holds a weight room and the last practice field being open air. It is here that the Russian Legion may be found practicing 5 days a week performing drill after drill with a practice regimen and work ethic that lends to their overall success as a competitive team. Departing the training facility, the Russian Government supplied Gary clearance to do a photography shoot with Russian Legion in Red Square itself, unprecedented I would have to say!
Following this aspect of a rather exhaustive tour the next leg of Gary’s journey had him in attendance at a Scenario event unlike any other event he had ever witnessed. Approximately one hour just outside Moscow saw “Big Paintball Maneuvers” or “БПМ™ -2010 Transvall Moscow Big Game” as the game was called. The game itself might just top our very own DDay as one of the biggest paintball games in the world. The field itself sports thick woods and some swamp areas and also includes brick buildings and open roads to traverse. Some 3384 paintball enthusiasts descended on a field half the size of Oklahoma DDay Park to get their game on. Unlike here, the Russians added to their event using live explosives. “At one 
point a projectile not unlike an old German WW II grenade landed near me and went off, I could feel a real concussion and loud bang and was hit with paper wads and then the explosive spewed smoke that had me clearing out rather quickly” Gary mentions somewhat amused. Other pyrotechnics included a Cannon that fired off a projectile, every time the Cannon went off there was some 4-5 feet of flames erupting from the barrel and the launched projectile would explode in mid air raining smaller firecrackers onto the ground. Anyone caught in the shower was immediately eliminated from the round.
Another aspect of the game Gary observed was the level of organization throughout the entirety of this game. Unlike here the game itself saw 3000 players pre register to play and everyone performed a role and acted as extremely cohesive units. Players themselves were smartly dressed and many had very tricked out markers. “There were massive charges, explosives going off and everyone appeared to have a fantastic time with very few if any incidents at all” Gary went on to remark. The Russians take their paintball very very seriously and as the game wrapped up, all in attendance were then treated to Russian Rock Band B-2 who appeared to perform live to the masses.
Gary Baum at a Russian Rock Concert?
Do the Russians have a few things they could teach us?….perhaps they do!
Das Vadanya Komrades!
For even more photos from this epic event please visit the game photo gallery
Photos courtesy of Gary Baum of www.paintballphotography.com
wellllll looks like I got another Euro game to hit up.
I need to visit Russia some time.