Getting ready for the first shots fired

Mike Sciacca

Paint pellets will fill fly north of the Huntington Beach Pier this

weekend as 160 teams from around the world compete at the 2004

National Professional Paintball League Super 7 World Series.

The three-day event will get underway at 8 a.m. Friday and

conclude with championship round play late Sunday afternoon.

The weekend tournament in Surf City is the first stop for the 2004

Super 7 World Series tour, which holds five events in the states and

sanctions four more in Europe.

“We’re really excited to be kicking off the series here in

Huntington Beach,” said Chuck Hendsch, president of the National

Professional Paintball League. “We had a great time down here last

year and from what I understand, local businesses benefited from our

holding this event at the pier.”

Hendsch said that last year’s event, which drew criticism from

some local residents, brought about 1,600 visitors to local hotels,

and nearly 30,000 spectators came to watch the tournament.

Paintball is based on the game capture the flag that many played

in gym as a child. It’s played on a field that is 100 by 200 feet in

dimension. Each game lasts a maximum of seven minutes and whichever

team eliminates the other and captures the opposing team’s flag, wins

the match.

Although this year’s game format is the same as last year’s, there

have been some adjustments made to the 2004 tournament.

For starters, the tournament has been moved from February to March

to minimize the potential for rain.

Last year, rain did not impede the actual tournament, but it did

come the day after, which made cleanup “a bit of a bear,” Hendsch

said.

The tournament in Surf City drew 92 teams last year but, Hendsch

said, teams from the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and

throughout Europe, are expected this weekend and will bring this

year’s team total to more than 160.

Teams will be competing for $20,000 in prize money and points.

The overall points winner at the conclusion of the 2004 tour will

become the series’ team grand champion.

Dynasty, a team from San Diego and the 2003 overall points

champion, will defend its title at the pier.

Team Rhythm, of western New York, is the youngest team competing

with players ranging in age from 13 to 20.

The average age of players competing is 16.

In addition, on Sunday, a celebrity shootout, featuring members

from Linkin Park, Cypress Hill and Everlast’s band will battle each

other.

Vendor booths will be set up along the beach, including one from

the television show, “Fear Factor,” which will be holding a signup

casting call, Hendsch said.

Perhaps the most notable difference from a year ago -- when the

tournament was played directly on the sand -- is that games will take

place on a green, action-back turf that has been designed to lay over

the sand.

“It will make it a lot easier on cleanup and make the game a lot

faster,” Hendsch said.

More than 300 games in four divisions will be played each of the

three days between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Fox Sports Net will be down at the pier to film the three-day

tournament.

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.