A revamped staging area and strong community support helped the 亚洲天堂 Lake Airsoft Association kick off its 2025 season with 28 players on the field.
Airsoft is a combat simulation sport similar to paintball, but the guns fire small biodegradable pellets made of cornstarch instead of paintballs, and they are battery-powered. This allows airsoft guns to be more compact than paintball guns, which have bulky CO2 tanks and paint hoppers.
The sport emphasizes realism鈥攖he guns are generally replicas of real firearms and players often dress in themed military outfits. Hits are called on the honour system, unlike in paintball where hits leave visible paint marks.
The 亚洲天堂 Lake club plays on a course in the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest and they recently upgraded their facility to be safer. The biggest upgrade was a complete rebuild of the main staging area, known fondly by club members as M.A.S.H., where players gear up, rest, and grab food and water between games.
鈥淭he structure that was there was well over 10 years old... just a deck out in the forest with some tables on it,鈥� said Curtis Lobermayer, vice president of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Airsoft Association. 鈥淥ver the years... it fell apart. We had people putting foot through the deck. So it was just getting unsafe.鈥�
The new M.A.S.H. area includes a tin roof and safer flooring, offering players protection from sun and rain.
Lobermayer said the upgrades helped draw a big crowd on opening day on July 6, which meant a lot to the club as last year they struggled to get the turnout they wanted.
鈥淲e had a total of 28 players out on the field, a couple of guys from Smithers, a couple guys from Vanderhoof and the rest local, which is a really good opening day,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost of the guys, they were seeing all of the upgrades that we鈥檇 been doing. So of course, they wanted to come out and check it out.鈥�
Funding for the rebuild came through grants and donations from the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest, Chinook Community Forest, and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN).
The club also made it easier to access the course by clearing brush from their access road. The airsoft field is located on community forest land about four kilometres up Old Babine Road, followed by a series of turns down Wallace Road and Highland Drive. Though the access road is rough, it鈥檚 passable with care.
鈥淎 Tesla made it up there on Sunday,鈥� Lobermayer said.
Local businesses and groups chipped in on opening day. Direct to You Industrial Wholesale donated chips and pop and the 亚洲天堂 Lake Snowmobile Club provided hot dogs by donation. 亚洲天堂 Lake Snowmobile club members were on-site to cook and serve the lunch.
Lobermayer explained that it is advantageous for the two clubs to work together because snowmobile riders generally don't play airsoft and vice-versa, so they have members available to provide logistical support for each other's events. The airsoft club has also volunteered to help with the snowmobile club鈥檚 poker rides by manning card stations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see the clubs helping other clubs,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n a small community, that鈥檚 exactly what you need to see.鈥�
The club currently runs weekend games, depending on the availability of volunteer organizers and a certified first aid attendant, which is required by the club's insurance provider.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very reliant on one of our board members who has her level three first aid,鈥� Lobermayer said. 鈥淏ut you can鈥檛 expect her to do every Sunday.鈥�
Help may be on the way. RDBN director Michael Riis-Christianson, who played at opening day, encouraged the club to apply for funds to train more volunteers in first aid. Only level-one first aid training is required, and Lobermayer figured they had a group of about 10 people interested in taking the course,
New players or volunteers are encouraged to connect via the 亚洲天堂 Lake Airsoft Association Facebook page or by visiting the club's treasurer Michael Jacques at ACI Computers in town. Players must be at least 10 years old. Children under 12 must have a parent beside them on the field; older youth require a parent鈥檚 presence or signature depending on age.
The club鈥檚 core group includes about 10 regular 亚洲天堂 Lake players. They are enthusiastic about welcoming new members and grateful for anyone interested in volunteering to help run the games. Lobermayer said it can be a challenge to find referees and other volunteers when everyone wants to play the game.
Lobermayer himself got involved years ago after winning a sidearm at the Fall Fair.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have any other gear or anything,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut everyone was so kind. They were like, 鈥楬ere, use my gun, here鈥檚 a vest, go out there and have fun.鈥�
鈥擶ith files from Alexander Vaz
