Loaded with gear sneaking around forest trails is far different from most airsofters 9-5 jobs, so why would they spend a day out of there weekend doing it?
First of all its fun, but the two other main reasons are excercise and mental challenge. The mental aspect is airsoft promotes quick thinking, team work and communication. During bigger games between clubs around here you are often working with people you barely know, trying to work together and complete a set of objectives. It can be quite mentally demanding, especially when taking on the task of leading a team or while playing at night.
Then theres the physical excercise, at my 9-5 job it could not be any farther from what I do on weekends. My usual kit list consists of a uniform usually of Russian or Eastern-Bloc pattern (its cheaper!), a tactical vest consisting of any-were from three to eight magazines, goggles, knee pads and boots and a webbelt & harness. For longer days in the field, usually a "tea bag" backpack filled with magazines and bb's with rain kit and a hat and boots. Most kit is adapted to airsoft use, with most players carrying dump magazine pouches and buttpacks to carry around water and any assorted field snacks or anything else they may think they will need. Carrying the weight around all day can be quite a work out for some of us who are out of shape from sitting in offices!
Then theres actually crawling around and running threw the forest. The we are blessed to play in a very nice rain forest, with the trees being 100+ years old. The thick low ferns and challele and dippy terrain make any off the widing trails "expedition" loud, and quite slow at times as some places the brush can be taller then the player! The frequent slopping hills, and root infested trails can pose many ankle injuries if a player is not paying attention while on patrol. Many various stumps and downed trees and areas thick in challele providing ambush spots for awaiting players. The low river level swamps filled with downed trees and thick mud provide slow moving as 100m can take as long as 20 minutes during winter, and can provide the opposing team with many possible ambush sites along the way.
The mental aspect of large scale contact can be inimidating for some new players. With the thoughts of "snipers" and trip wire/control detonated bb land mines spread around a rain forest terrain would be. How-ever the more they play during the average game day the more ready they will be to play in the larger scenarios, the average game day pretty much "is" practise so you can learn and get in shape for the really large games.
Ty Fawcett, the webmaster for Vancouver Island Airsoft and Central Island Airsoft, between the two he has little time to do anything else! Check out our Vancouver Island Airsoft Equipment
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