History of Airsoft in the Pacific NW

[Geoffrey]

I have googled, read various posts, threads, and articles about various aspects in relation to the History of Airsoft in the Pacific NW.

I wanted to open this topic to allow individuals to share what they know about the History of Airsoft in the PAC NW, whether it be in their State, City, or even the history of their Airsoft team... as a side note, if one can, please provide a source for their information, whether it be an article, personal experience, videos... etc.

The information one provides can be over any period of time, but please state information chronologically, by using dates, months, years... whatever pertains to the information one is providing.

One may focus on a specific aspect of the sport such as retailers in the NW, Teams, this website... or just give a broad overview of the NW history. The more detail, the better, alas, to each their own.

-Geoffrey.

[Variable]

Why do you care?

[McNair]

Well, in the Portland area... around 2000....
I first discovered Airsoft while looking for stuff online when I was doing WWII reenacting. Eventually I found BASC(Beaverton Airsoft Command). Met up with them, bought a couple spring pistols.
A few months later I met Alex Pearson(Alex-Kaeda on here) and was introduced to AEGs.
I think the biggest games at the time were up in Washington. A team up there, PSAC(?), put on games that were mostly 18+.
Alex and I started organizing and getting games hosted around the area. We had a couple fields up here in Vernonia, a field down in Junction City, and a field or two in Silverton. We averaged around 20 people at most at games, and that was a good turn out. Sometimes there would be 6 people.
The teams around 2000/2001 were BASC, MSAT, Team7, Nukeproof, and the kids in Junction City/Eugene(I forgot the name). We played pretty much every weekend, often times both Saturday and Sunday at separate fields. During the summer you'd get the large influx of people and then once school started, everyone would go back and sell their guns when they found some new shiny thing.
Back in the day when we had to order most all of our stuff from China and paid $400+ for TM guns.

Then Matt Rowell came along with internet skills and the community blew up. Often times you hear it that this is when airsoft started in the area.




Variable is just bitter 'cause he doesn't know.

[Variable]

Sounds like he's crowdsourcing a 2 page paper for Writing 121.

[Osprey]

My History + My Teams History-
Well I started playing at age of 15. I attend a few events that were post here on AP. I kept a low profile until January of last year. After makeing the account I have attend games in Sliverton, Scappoose, and Splat Action. About 15 games in total. I did change my Callname from ReaperXIV(16) to Osprey about Three month ago. I'm also the Co leader of the Red Talon Contractors. There really isn't any team history because its only been around since January of this year.

Molalla Area-
Splat Action the Paintball Field here has been used to host events all the time. Now I don't know of anyone else from here besides SilentStalker and Lushes.

All so why do you want to know this stuff?

[Geoffrey]

Sounds like he's crowdsourcing a 2 page paper for Writing 121.

First, the last writing class I took was 321 Business Com., please do not insult me with your prejudice comments because I am a 'n00b'.

Second, I understand the assumption of 'crowd-sourcing' as I failed to state my intentions in my introduction to this thread: my intentions, although they involve such aspects, fall under recreational writing. I plan to write a proposal on doing an exposé on the Airsoft community in Eugene/greater Oregon for a local paper (The Torch, and if Daily Em will run it, them as well).

Yes, I am new to the Airsoft community, and have thus far loved it, however, there are vast misconceptions that saturate public knowledge/opinion as to WHAT, exactly, Airsoft is (Understatement of the year). Even after an hour or two of youtube, forums, and explanations, friends of mine still thought Airsoft was just a group of 15-year-old, obese nerds scampering about aimlessly in order to fulfill some COD or Battlefield craving sought out by their imaginations. And at times, this belief is not entire false, alas, I should think one is now able to see my intentions.

[Cyph34r]

Sounds like he's crowdsourcing a 2 page paper for Writing 121.

+1

Edit: Turns out Variable was wrong, this is worse. My new advice is:

shazaam media attention, all they want is entertainment, so they'll focus on the fuckups.

[Steve]

Might not be a bad idea to add a poll to this topic.

One of the options should be "I want media attention NOWHERE NEAR the airsoft community, because Airsoft + Media = BAD".

[Geoffrey]

Lots of people here have been around for a long time, and the easiest way to learn about the history of airsoft in the area (and AP specifically) is just to hang out with them and talk to them.

And indeed I plan to, however, with my rifle not coming until next week, as well as wanting a little practice, I will not be able to attend events until Weekend Warrior March 24th-25th. Thus I have several weeks to gather information before being able to interview leading individuals of the AP community... I would prefer not to sit on my a$$ during this time.

[McNair]

Well, feel free to PM me with any questions.

Here's a good article from Matt's perspective:

http://www.airsoftoutletnw.com/index.ph ... Itemid=217

[Variable]

Whoops, not crowdsourcing for WRI 121, crowdsourcing for a local rag... that's a whole lot better.

Do us all a favor and don't contribute to "public" attention of the game. For every person that reads it and becomes informed about how harmless we are, there will be ten NIMBYs/Soccer moms that think we're a bunch of dangerous terrorists.

[Junto]

Do us all a favor and don't contribute to "public" attention of the game. For every person that reads it and becomes informed about how harmless we are, there will be ten NIMBYs/Soccer moms that think we're a bunch of dangerous terrorists.

+1 to this and Steve's comment. Some sub-cultures should stay sub-cultures. People outside the community generally don't "get it" and only see grown men and boys in the woods "being a nuisance" in one way or another. That can mean training "terrorists" in the eyes of the media, or just training children to be "killers".

People like to freak out.

[Osprey]

I just read that whole article. THANK YOU MATT FOR AP!!!!
Also Airsoft + News = Bad stuff

[McNair]

People like to freak out, including those involved in said sub-culture. Same shit, different year.

[code789]

my history:
i stopped insulting AP with trivial questions and started going to games
also bawls

if you wave some tacos around i'm sure someone will lend you their gun for a game