Editing History of paintball (section)

== Origins (1981–1983) ==

=== The first paintball game ===

Paintball originated from a debate between American writer [[Charles Gaines]] and stockbroker [[Hayes Noel]] over whether wilderness survival depended primarily on natural instinct or learned outdoor skills.

The two experimented with [[Nelspot 007]] marking pistols, originally designed for forestry and agricultural applications. Together with sporting-goods businessman [[Bob Gurnsey]], they developed a competitive game involving coloured flags, navigation and the elimination of opponents.[1][2]

On 27 June 1981, twelve participants gathered in woodland near Henniker, New Hampshire, for the first recorded organised paintball game.

Players carried Nelspot pistols, paintballs, maps and compasses. Their objective was to collect four differently coloured flags without being eliminated.

The winner was forester Ritchie White, who collected the required flags without firing his marker.[1]

The event attracted wider attention following an October 1981 article in ''Sports Illustrated'' written by participant Robert F. Jones.[1]

=== National Survival Game ===

Following the inaugural game, Gaines, Noel and Gurnsey established [[National Survival Game]] (NSG), which marketed paintball equipment, rules and commercial playing opportunities.

During 1982, the company began establishing and licensing commercial playing fields.

Early NSG equipment included the Nelspot 007, paintballs supplied through the Nelson Paint Company and basic protective equipment.

The emerging industry also attracted independent competitors. [[Pursuit Marketing Inc.]] (PMI), established by [[Jeffrey Perlmutter]] and [[David Freeman]] in 1982, became an important early equipment distributor.[3]

=== First national championship ===

The first National Survival Game Championship was held in New Hampshire in 1983.

The event brought together teams from the United States and Canada, establishing an early model for organised tournament paintball.

The competition was won by the [[Unknown Rebels]], a Canadian team from Ontario.[4]