When was Air Assault formed? Who made up the original members?

March 2006. Original core memebers:  Jay Shelley, Dameon Bryant, Seth Osburnsen, Jamison Chop, Sam Gearing, Joe Fields, Blake Leigh, and Brent Kotchman.
What events did the team play at the time?

We played PSP Chicago 06 and got knocked out in semi-finals and then played Boston NPPL 06 and won it.  Also terrorized the Northside “Triple Crown” series sweeping the podium twice.

Was the team a direct result of the store?

No.  Air Assault was sponsoring numerous teams at this time.

How has Air Assault changed as a team/organization over the years?

We’ve gone from 3 programs to one and gone through over 100 players.

At the peak, how many lines was Air Assault Factory running?

3 serperate programs with about 6 lines.

What are some major accomplishments of Air Assault?

Most winningest team in MN history.  More national (both NPPL and PSP) and regional podiums than all other MN teams combined.

What tournament series does Air Assault currently play?

Vicious series and PSP.

Any plans to play NPPL again in the future?

“Plans”? “Future”?  No idea.

What division does the team compete at?

D4 and D3

What is the average age of the players on the team?

Players range in age from 16 to 29.

Are there any players from out of state?

Yes. ND, SD, and WI.

How often do the players out of state travel in for practice?

With the original program it was 2x a month and everyone was there almost everytime.  Now the team is based mostly out of the cities and those from out of the area make most practices.

What would you say is an area that the team excels at?

Putting chrome on the wall.

How many trophies are on the wall at Air Assault from the factory team?

All the ones that count.  NPPL Boston 06, NPPL Tampa 07, NPPL Boston 07 and a pile of locals

Are there any weaknesses that you have or are trying to over come?

Keeping a stable roster.

Why do you think the team struggles to maintain a consistent roster?

Because modern competition paintball’s base it built off of dickbeating kids.  They are flaky and tempermental.  Many struggle with the concept of putting a team above themselves.

Do the players own the jerseys or are they property of the team? What happens when someone defects?

Well, if they aren’t a bitch and won a relevant event: they keep them.  If they are a bitch, they get treated like a bitch.

Who are some of your sponsors, and what do they do for you?

Air Assault is our sponsor.

Who are some of the other sponsors?

I define sponsor as someone who PAYS for things (IE: AA).  If you define it as “discounts” or “free stuff”, then (past and present): Planet Eclipse, NXE, MWAG, Perkins Transportation, DXS, KEE Action Sports.

How many Air Assault team ego’s are in circulation? How did you guys land that deal?

They are 20 AA EGO 09s and 12 AA GEOs out there.  Air Assault is a top tier PE dealer and warranty center and we decided to get some custom egos and geos made.

How many of those guns are still owned by team players?

Maybe 7 or 8.

Are there any plans for a new team gun?

Not currently.

Where does the team typically practice & play?

Air Assault and APPG.

How often are the players expected to practice?

Usually every weekend, take breaks here and there.

A lot of kids think that if they get on a sponsored team such as Air Assault Factory, that they wont have to pay for anything. Obviously this is not true, what types of expenses are the players responsible?

All travel expenses, their share of paint and entry for certain events.

How does the team deal with players who think that they deserve everything?

Well, we’ve gone thru over 100 players–see the correlation?

What does the future hold for Air Assault?

More paintball.

Is there anything else about the team that you’d like to touch on?

AAF owes everything to Gary and his generosity.

Do you think that any of this would be possible with out the support of Gary?

No.  The original program was based on the concept that we would grind as hard as possible in the off season, without AA’s facility–that would have been impossible.  Without Gary’s willingness to take a chance on us (when everyone was telling him we were a joke), then we never would have made it out to Boston in the first place.