Editing Chris Lasoya


'''Chris LaSoya''', also known as '''Chris Lasoya''' and nicknamed '''Pony Boy''', is an American former professional [[paintball]] player. He is best known for his association with [[Avalanche (paintball team)|Avalanche]], [[Miami Effect]] and [[Infamous (paintball team)|Infamous]], competing across the transition from traditional woodland tournaments to modern airball and X-Ball competition.[1][2]

LaSoya was recognised for his aggressive playing style, particularly his ability to advance rapidly through the centre of the field and eliminate multiple opponents. He was among the most recognisable professional players during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1]

He was included in the inaugural class of the [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]] in 2023.[3]

== Playing career ==

=== Early career and Avalanche ===

LaSoya began competing professionally during the era of traditional woodland and ten-player tournament paintball.

His early playing career included [[Easy Company]] before he became a prominent member of Avalanche, one of the leading professional teams of the late 1990s.[4]

Contemporary tournament records confirm his membership of Avalanche by 1999, when he competed at the Skyball tournament in Toronto, Canada.[5]

During this period, Avalanche fielded players including [[Rocky Cagnoni]], [[Steve Rabackoff]], [[Ed Poorman]], [[Todd Martinez]] and [[Travis Lemanski]].

LaSoya became particularly associated with the team's aggressive approach to tournament competition.

At the 2000 [[Campaign Cup]] in England, Avalanche won the professional division of the [[Millennium Series]] event.

Contemporary reporting specifically highlighted LaSoya's attacking movements through the centre of the field as an important part of the team's success. The victory was Avalanche's fifth consecutive tournament win.[6]

LaSoya remained with Avalanche during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, appearing on the team's official [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) professional rosters.[7][8]

=== Miami Effect ===

In 2003, LaSoya joined [[Miami Effect]], a professional franchise competing in the newly established [[National Xball League]] (NXL).

The team included several former Avalanche players, among them Travis Lemanski, [[Jon Richardson]], [[Brian Fow]] and [[Rusty Glaze]].

LaSoya appeared on Miami Effect's roster for the inaugural NXL competition at the 2003 Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans, wearing jersey number 69.[9]

He subsequently served as the team's captain during the 2004 season.

=== Formation of Infamous ===

During the 2004 NXL season, LaSoya and other Miami Effect players left the franchise and established a new team under the name [[Infamous (paintball team)|Infamous]].

The move followed disagreements over participation restrictions imposed by the NXL, which prevented registered players from competing in certain rival professional leagues.[10]

Infamous entered the [[NPPL Super 7]] series and immediately achieved success.

At the 2004 Tampa event, held near Raymond James Stadium in Florida, Infamous defeated [[San Diego Dynasty]] in the professional final to win its first NPPL tournament.

The team followed this victory with another professional championship at the 2004 Denver Open, defeating [[Sacramento XSV]] in the final.[11][12]

LaSoya continued competing with Infamous during the following seasons.

At the [[2005 Paintball World Cup]], Infamous faced his former team Avalanche in an Open Class X-Ball match. The game ended 6–6 in regulation before Infamous won in sudden-death overtime.

Contemporary reporting recorded spectators chanting LaSoya's nickname, "Pony Boy", following the victory.[13]

=== Later competition ===

LaSoya continued participating in professional paintball after his principal years with Avalanche and Infamous.

In 2007, he appeared with Montreal Image in the NPPL Super 7 series and was featured in an episode of the television programme ''Xtreme Paintball: Beyond the Paint''.[14]

By 2009, he was associated with [[San Diego Aftermath]], appearing on a published team roster for that season.[15]

He was subsequently linked with the Swedish professional team [[Joy Division]] during the 2010 Millennium Series season.[16]

LaSoya later participated in classic-format paintball events, including ten-player competition.

In July 2024, he appeared on the ''Play The Game'' podcast to discuss his professional career, participation in classic events and a renewed sponsorship arrangement with [[JT USA]].[17]

== Playing style and recognition ==

LaSoya was known for his aggressive approach to tournament paintball, frequently making rapid offensive movements to eliminate opposing players.

His performances helped establish his reputation during the transition from woodland competition to hyperball, airball and X-Ball formats.

A notable example occurred at the 2001 NPPL Chicago Open, where LaSoya was the last surviving Avalanche player during a match against Dynasty.

After Dynasty players mistakenly believed he had been eliminated, LaSoya advanced from his bunker and eliminated three opponents before being shot himself. The move was documented in contemporary WARPIG tournament coverage.[18]

LaSoya was also recognised for his distinctive appearance and personality, particularly his long ponytail and energetic celebrations.

In 2021, Iconic Paintball included him in its retrospective assessment of notable professional paintball players.[1]

In 2023, he was recognised as a member of the inaugural Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons class. The official class archive identifies his nickname as "The Pony Boy" and highlights his achievements with Avalanche and Infamous.[3]

== Equipment endorsements ==

LaSoya's professional career included equipment sponsorships and signature paintball markers.

During his Avalanche years, he was associated with [[WDP]] and its [[Angel (paintball marker)|Angel]] electronic markers. WARPIG documented his signature Element Angel markers at the 2001 Millennium Series Joy Masters tournament.[19]

He subsequently became associated with [[Bob Long Technologies]] and the LaSoya Intimidator, a signature version of the [[Bob Long Intimidator]] developed during his Miami Effect period.[20]

== Selected tournament achievements ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Tournament
! Division
! Team
! Result
|-
| 2000
| [[Campaign Cup]]
| Professional
| [[Avalanche (paintball team)|Avalanche]]
| 1st
|-
| 2004
| NPPL Tampa Open
| Professional 7-man
| [[Infamous (paintball team)|Infamous]]
| 1st
|-
| 2004
| NPPL Denver Open
| Professional 7-man
| [[Infamous (paintball team)|Infamous]]
| 1st
|}

''The table lists selected documented tournament victories rather than a complete competitive record.''

== See also ==

* [[Avalanche (paintball team)]]
* [[Miami Effect]]
* [[Infamous (paintball team)]]
* [[Steve Rabackoff]]
* [[Rocky Cagnoni]]
* [[Travis Lemanski]]
* [[Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]]
* [[History of tournament paintball]]

== References ==

# [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/history/the-50-greatest-paintball-players-of-all-time Iconic Paintball, "The 50 Greatest Paintball Players of All-Time", 2021. Retrospective assessment of LaSoya's professional career.]
# [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2295397/episodes/17378325-ep45-the-most-infamous-chris-lasoya Paintball Passport, "EP45: The Most Infamous! Chris Lasoya", 23 June 2025. Interview covering LaSoya's professional career.]
# [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/class-of-2023-inaugural-class Iconic Paintball, "Class of 2023, Inaugural Class". Official Hall of Icons induction archive.]
# [https://www.paintballfilms.com/product/chris-lasoya/ Paintball Films, "Chris LaSoya". Interview for ''The Complete History of Paintball'' covering Easy Company, Avalanche and equipment sponsorships.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/skyball99/roster.shtml WARPIG, "Skyball 1999 Rosters". Contemporary professional roster listing LaSoya with Avalanche.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/campaigncup/2000/index.shtml WARPIG, "Campaign Cup 2000". Tournament report documenting Avalanche's professional victory and LaSoya's performance.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/proroster.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL 2001 Professional Rosters". Avalanche professional roster.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/proroster.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL 2002 Professional Rosters". Avalanche professional roster.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/mardigras/2003/nxl_rosters.shtml WARPIG, "NXL Rosters from the Mardi Gras Open", 20–23 February 2003. Original Miami Effect roster.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/articles/news/070904nxlrules.shtml WARPIG, Bill Mills, "NXL: Same Triggers, New Leagues", 9 July 2004. Contemporary reporting on Miami Effect's departure and the establishment of Infamous.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/tampa/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Super 7 Tampa", May 2004. Infamous professional championship.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/denver/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Denver Open 2004". Infamous professional championship.]
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2005/cup/ WARPIG, "PSP Paintball World Cup 2005", October 2005. Tournament report documenting Infamous against Avalanche.]
# [https://www.thetvdb.com/series/xtreme-paintball-beyond-the-paint/allseasons/official TheTVDB, "Xtreme Paintball: Beyond the Paint", Season 1, Episode 2, 9 October 2007.]
# [https://seburo.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-pro-teams-line-ups.html SEBURO, "2009 US Pro Team Rosters", 6 February 2009. Published San Diego Aftermath roster.]
# [https://jrdominguez32paintball.blogspot.com/2010/04/joy-divisions-2010-pro-paintball-jersey.html JR Dominguez 32 Paintball, "Joy Division's 2010 Pro Paintball Jersey", 20 April 2010.]
# [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/257-mike-hinman-chris-lasoya/id1509598778?i=1000660965432 Play The Game, Episode 257, "Mike Hinman & Chris Lasoya", 2 July 2024.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2001/chicago/index.shtml WARPIG, "NPPL Chicago Open 2001". Contemporary account of LaSoya's performance against Dynasty.]
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/milleniumseries/2001/joy_masters/index.shtml WARPIG, "Millennium Series Joy Masters 2001". Contemporary reporting on LaSoya's Element Angel markers.]
# [https://www.pbvault.com/products/chris-lasoyas-personal-prototype-intimidator Paintball Vault, "Chris Lasoya's Personal Prototype Intimidator". Historical equipment listing documenting the signature marker.]

== External links ==

* [https://www.iconicpaintball.com/class-of-2023-inaugural-class Iconic Paintball Hall of Icons]
* [https://www.paintballfilms.com/product/chris-lasoya/ Chris LaSoya interview, The Complete History of Paintball]
* [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2295397/episodes/17378325-ep45-the-most-infamous-chris-lasoya Paintball Passport interview, 2025]

[[Category:Paintball players]]
[[Category:American paintball players]]
[[Category:Professional paintball players]]