Ed Poorman

Ed Poorman is an American former professional paintball player, team owner, equipment designer and tournament promoter. He is best known for his association with the professional team Avalanche and the paintball equipment business Warped Sportz, which became prominent during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1][2]

Poorman competed in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), helped organise professional tournaments and was involved in developing customised WDP Angel electronic paintball markers. He was inducted into the Hall of Icons in 2026 in recognition of his contributions to professional paintball.[3]

Paintball career

Avalanche

Poorman was closely associated with Avalanche, an American professional tournament paintball team that became prominent during the 1990s.

He served as team owner and also competed as a player.

A contemporary roster from the 1999 Skyball tournament listed Poorman alongside Chris LaSoya, Glenn Forster, Bill Abell, Richmond Italia and Rocky Cagnoni.[4]

Avalanche won the 1999 NPPL professional 10-man season championship, having also recorded tournament victories in Las Vegas and Dallas that year.[5]

The team continued competing at the highest level of American tournament paintball during the early 2000s.

Published NPPL professional rosters for 2001 and 2002 listed Poorman as an Avalanche player, alongside teammates including Chris LaSoya, Rocky Cagnoni, Todd Martinez, Travis Lemanski and Steve Rabackoff.[6][7]

By October 2002, Poorman had largely retired from professional playing, although contemporary WARPIG coverage documented his temporary return to the Avalanche lineup during that year's World Cup.[8]

Poorman remained involved in the organisation's management as Avalanche continued competing in the NPPL Super 7 series.

Warped Sportz

Poorman was the owner and chief executive of Warped Sportz, an American paintball equipment retailer and custom marker business established in Nebraska in 1994.

The company became associated with professional tournament paintball through its sponsorship and commercial relationship with Avalanche.

Warped Sportz marketed paintball equipment, clothing, accessories and customised electronic markers, particularly its Dark Angel series based on the British WDP Angel platform.

Dark Angel markers

Poorman was directly involved in the design of customised Angel paintball markers.

In June 2002, Warped Sportz announced the Chris LaSoya Signature Series Dark Angel IR3, also known as the CLASS.

The marker was designed by Poorman and featured customised body milling and anodising. The company announced production of 15 units per month, with champagne, pewter and ocean finishes available.[9]

The CLASS followed an earlier Chris LaSoya signature marker, the Elements Angel, released in 2001.

The association between Warped Sportz, Avalanche and the Dark Angel range connected the company's products with prominent professional tournament players.

Retail expansion

Warped Sportz also developed a network of retail outlets and authorised distributors.

In July 2002, the company announced a programme allowing independent paintball retailers to establish dedicated Warped Sportz product sections, known as Sub-Stations.

The programme operated alongside conventional retail partnerships and Warped Sportz franchises.[10]

Tournament promotion

Poorman was involved in tournament promotion during the development of Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP).

At the NPPL organisational meetings held on 12–13 January 2001, he was identified as one of the promoters responsible for the fourth event of the 2001 season, alongside Richmond Italia of Diablo.[11]

The pair subsequently promoted the 2001 NPPL Atlantic City Open.

Contemporary WARPIG coverage credited the event with improvements in tournament organisation and facilities, supported by the shared resources of PSP.[12]

Poorman also participated in international tournament promotion.

For the 2002 Aruba Pro/Am, held on 20–21 September, he partnered with local organiser Jossy Mansur. Poorman handled tournament promotion while Mansur coordinated arrangements on the island.[13]

Later involvement

After stepping away from professional competition, Poorman returned to an administrative role within the NPPL.

In August 2012, Social Paintball reported that he had become the league's team and sponsor liaison.

The role involved communicating with participating teams and sponsors and gathering feedback on the organisation of NPPL events.[14]

Recognition

In 2026, Poorman was inducted into the Hall of Icons, a recognition programme honouring individuals who contributed to professional paintball.

He was selected in the Growth Era category, recognising participants associated with the development of the sport during its earlier professional period.[3]

The April 2026 edition of Paintball Media Magazine confirmed Poorman's induction alongside Frank Connell, J. C. Whittington, Davey Williamson, Brian Fow, Chuck Hendsch and Alex Martinez.[15]

References

SC Village – The Legendary Teams of SC Village.
WARPIG – Warped Sportz Releases the Chris LaSoya Signature Series Dark Angel IR3. 11 June 2002.
Iconic Paintball – Hall of Icons Class of 2026.
WARPIG – Skyball 1999 Team Roster.
WARPIG – 1999 NPPL World Cup and Professional Series Championship. 18–24 October 1999.
WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Professional Rosters.
WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Professional Rosters. 10 March 2002.
WARPIG – 2002 PSP/NPPL World Cup. 19–27 October 2002.
WARPIG – Chris LaSoya Signature Series Dark Angel IR3 Announcement. 11 June 2002.
WARPIG – Warped Sportz Opens Sub-Station/Authorised Outlet. 26 July 2002.
WARPIG – NPPL 2001 Season Organisational Meeting. Bill Mills, January 2001.
WARPIG – 2001 NPPL Atlantic City Open.
WARPIG – Aruba Pro/Am 2002. 20–21 September 2002.
Social Paintball – Friday Report: 2012 NPPL DC Challenge. Bea Paxson, 25 August 2012.
Paintball Media Magazine – April 2026, Hall of Icons Inductees.

External links