PRO BIOS

GREG HASTINGS

Greg Hastings can only be described as a fun loving adventurer, who craves the outdoors, thrives on tough challenges, and has always sought tough competition. Greg has always been an athlete and a competitor, excelling on many organized sports teams, as well as competing in individual sports of all kinds, in and around Stratford, N.J, a suburb of Philadelphia. While still in the 6th grade, he was the youngest to ever wrestle at his middle school, Samuel S. Yellin. At the time, only 7th and 8th graders were permitted to compete, but while watching his older brother Glenn at a team practice, Greg jumped in for a practice match and did well enough to get special permission to compete. He went on to score a pin at his first team match against an 8th grader. Greg continued to participate in many sports activities like this through high school, but what he enjoyed most as a young boy, was any activity off the beaten path such as fishing, exploring, hiking, swimming, BMX, and on more than a few occasions, some mischief.

Then in 1982, Greg discovered the new form of dancing that was growing in popularity called "breakin". Although at first, he was not very good at it, he stuck with it for next few years and began to practice individual, as well as, choreographed group moves with his brother Glenn. Eventually developing their own style and adding a 3rd member to their group, they went on a small tour from town to town, putting on shows, and competing in "battles" for money. Greg (Swamii), his brother Glenn (Swipes), and friend, Scott Abdul Salaam(Casanova), made a name for themselves as the Strobe Breakers. Greg later went on to choreograph and mentor other b-boy crews and even lead a crew to a win on stage at Street Dance '86 in front of over 10,000 spectators. This is when Greg, still only 19, had his first brush with fame, as many spectators and media, mobbed Greg and his crew after the win.

Greg and his brother Glenn continued to practice often and were always looking for ways to parlay their skills into some kind of living, but for Greg, difficult times were ahead. A brush with death at 19 years old disrupted his b-boy career. It took him almost two years to fully recover and just as his recovery was complete, another huge challenge was presented. Greg witnessed his own best friend, Mark Edwards, die in a pool accident. It was a confusing time for Greg, as he struggled to find a direction in life. He then enrolled in the local community college, but never really took it seriously and rarely even showed up for classes. The following year, another of Greg's friends, invited him up to Connecticut for a weekend visit. It was 1987 and his friend, Lou Tomasso, who had joined the Navy right out of high school, wanted to show Greg the submarine he was stationed on in Groton. This is where he was introduced to a new sport called "paintball". Lou had organized a trip up to Rhode Island to play this new sport, and the adrenaline rush was so intense, Greg was forever hooked.

Although Greg's first paintball experience made a solid impression, it was not until he joined the Navy himself in 1988 and became stationed in San Diego, Ca. where his interest in paintball would really explode. Greg then met and befriended Jim Snodgrass from Montana. Jim had his own paintball equipment and encouraged Greg to get his own. The very next week, after buying a PMI 1, some camo, and goggles, he and Jim became weekend fixtures at Borderland Paintball in southern California for the next year and a half. Paintball, however, would have to take a back seat for the next few years, as Greg's Career in the Navy was getting up to stride. The Cold War was still in full swing, so he would definitely see action.

Although, being stationed on a fast attack sub of his own named the USS Gato (SSN615), Greg played paintball every time he was in port and even recruited shipmates to play while back in their home port of Groton Ct. While at sea, Greg served has a medal winning SONAR Supervisor and SCUBA Diving Operation Supervisor while only a 3rd Class Petty Officer. During his six-year tour, He had logged 186 thousand miles submerged on nuclear power, while on numerous Cold War missions around the globe, including support and protection for several different battle groups in the Mediterranean Sea during our first conflicts in the Gulf.

After being honorably discharged, Greg immediately answered an ad in Paintball News about a "try out" for a team based in Delaware. He wanted to play paintball at a higher competitive level, and recapture that adrenaline rush he felt back in the Breakin' days. Paintball was now his team sport of choice. Greg successfully made the Free Agents 10 man woodsball team and immediately began to stand out as a skillful player. Greg and the Free Agents traveled to almost every event in the North East that was within driving distance, gaining valuable experience and knowledge in competition paintball.

While playing on an early paintball team, long before sponsors began helping pay bills, Greg knew it was crucial that everyone on the team make his own living and still leave time and money to practice and travel to events. Greg was lucky enough to be hired by a local private detective agency, right after leaving the Navy. Being a streetwise kid from NJ, he was well suited to this type of challenging work. Greg became very proficient with many types of searches and investigations. This eventually allowed him to be able to make his own hours and take on cases that did not interfere with his playing schedule. Then, while sitting in his car on a stake out, in the middle of night, something extraordinary occurred. Greg had an idea how to greatly improve the way a player carries extra paintballs needed to keep up with the increasingly faster guns. Under the light from his car stereo, Greg sketched out the first designs of a revolutionary new product he called the "Redz Comfort Pack". Greg's innovation was the unique mating of a common, hardware store type back support belt to a series of pod holding pouches. Once hand made and tested, this product not only secured the future financing Greg would need to train and compete at higher levels, but it changed this gear genre forever.

Greg eventually traded in his "Redz" days, in order to continue with his unparalleled paintball innovations by starting a new gear company named "R7", as well as, becoming a successful video game developer and publisher. That, sports fans, is a very different story, for another time. Another video game chapter is being written now, as Greg is currently working on GHTP 2 for Wii, and X Box 360, to name a few platforms. Since starting his competitive paintball career, eventually turning pro, Greg Hastings has also played on teams such as the Secret Agents, Turbulence, BITM, Bob Long's Ironmen, Ground Zero Gold, Ground Zero International, Redz Factory, Brimstone Smoke, Sacramento XSV, and was most recently a member of New Jersey Authority and Method of Destruction based out of Woodbridge, N.J.

Greg Hastings' contagious passion for this sport is remarkable. He can be found at paintball fields all around the world, competing at events, large and small, local and international, representing his brand R7 and all his sponsors who help him do what he does best.

Billy Bernacchia

In 2001 Billy Bernacchia picked up a paintball gun for the first time behind his home in Milford, Connecticut. The thrill of winning was soon replaced by a desire to advance. Hard work, dedication, and a little luck have brought Billy into the spotlight as one of the top talents in paintball. Now in 2010, Billy Bernacchia is playing for Team Vicious in the pro league, A young new team with the drive to become the best.

Justin Rabackoff

Justin "J-Rab" Rabackoff plays for Boston Red Legion (Russian Legion). Born on October 6, 1988 in Detroit, MI, Justin started his pro career in �06 with Sacremento XSV and joined Russian Legion in '08. Going on to win the World Championship in 2009, Justin was named 2009 Player of the Year for Splat Magazine. Justin has also played with: Sacremento XSV, DC Devastation, LA Infamous, DC Arsenal, DC Dynasty Arsenal, Russian Legion, XS NRG.

Mike Peverill

Mike "Pev" Peverill has been playing paintball for nearly 20 years and has played at the professional level for 10 years. Pev has played in more countries that states and was paid to travel the world playing paintball. Countries include England, Germany, Austria, France, Austrailia, Canada, and Mexico to name a few. Pev's retired from pro tournament paintball in 1999 from Bad Company due to chronic knee problems and to focus on growing Pev�s Paintball from two locations to�the many locations today.

Bea Youngs

Bea Youngs launched her career as a player and spokesperson in 2000 as a founding member of the all-girl tournament paintball team Femmes Fatale. Bea has been an integral part of the paintball community since then, working on the front lines for industry leaders such as JT USA, Paintball Sports Promotions, and the Paintball Expo. Bea has been the “voice of paintball” during major paintball league live events, has also appeared on national television shows and continues to be a prolific member of the paintball media, writing for numerous paintball publications. Bea co-owns and plays on team Destiny, the only co-ed team to win a national paintball event championship. She is married to pro paintball player Mike Paxson and the couple has a beautiful daughter.

Clare Benavides

Clare first stepped onto the road to paintball fame in 2002 when she joined the Automags forum, where she was discovered by Tom Kaye, one of paintballís greatest innovators and the founder of Airgun Designs. She has been a member of Femmes Fatale, AGD Pride Factory Team, The Mob and co-captaining Empress, the Worldís first all-female X-Ball team. Clareís been seen in everything from magazines, posters, billboards, videogames , and numerous TV networks. Now, she’s putting her paintball popularity good use by hosting events to raise money towards a cause near and dear to her heart – autism research and awareness. “The best mechanics I have ever seen in a female player.” -Oliver Lang, 2010

David Thompson

David is a 21 year veteran of paintball, beginning with his father at age 10. By 16, David was recruited to a top tournament team captained by Rob Staudinger, but the thrill of the hunt in the woods is his passion. Team Capital Offense, which David started in 2006, is the flagship scenario team for Planet Eclipse, VFORCE, Full Clip, ATN Corp, Flurry Industries, and Scenario Supply. David brings a tournament-style of play and high tech gear like night vision to scenarios. David also helps train Green Berets and other elite military units in the real world for asymmetrical warfare.

Kerry Rosenberry

Kerry “Viper” Rosenberry joined the world of paintball back in the late 1980s. He was soon asked to join the home team “Marion’s Raiders” and played in a number of tournaments. The team began developing the idea of ìpaintball scenario games.î In 1996, Viper produced his first event near his new home in Houston, Texas. Viper now travels the country producing paintball scenarios. These games have entertained countless thousands of players from around the planet at world-famous venues like CPX Sports, EMR Paintball, Sherwood Forest, and SC Village. Viper gets out on the field and plays whenever he can, which never seems to be often enough for him.

Matty Marshall

Though Matty Marshall started his career with old school pro powerhouse Navarone in 1994 at the age of 16 as one of the youngest pros ever, his big break came when he played for the SC Ironmen in ’98 going on to help the iconic team win world titles in 2000 and 2002. He was one of the founding members of team XSV, and helped define a new generation of players with his charismatic style. He’s the definitive paintball writer, and has lent his voice to major painball tv shows, as well as appearing in and helping create the seminal paintball films of the modern era.

Mike “BLUE” Hanse

Mike “BLUE” Hanse has been playing paintball since 1983 and started his first field in 1984. He currently owns EMR Paintball Park and the marketing company/team BLUE’S CREW LLC with his wife, Sue and son “DEUCE”. Blue has published numerous articles and photos. He is currently co-authoring many columns with Deuce throughout various media. Besides being a marker manufacturer with Montneel Design in the 90s, Blue has been a distributor for numerous companies and has done extensive consulting work with manufacturers, dealers and teams. You can spot BLUE at most of the major Big games and Scenario Games throughout the US.

Nicky Cuba

Born in New York and raised next door to a paintball store, Nicky quickly advanced up the tournament ranks. He has played on numerous professional level teams including Complete Chaos, Sacramento XSV, Infamous and the LA Ironmen. The young sport of Professional Paintball is still defining itself and Nicky Cuba is at the front of this daily grind into the unknown, carrying a fast gun and a bright torch, carving a path for the next wave of up and coming paintball players.

Ryan Moorhead

Traveling around the world and playing professional paintball defines Ryan Moorhead. Born on April 18, 1985, Ryan began playing competitive paintball at the young age of 15 with the All-Americans 2. Ryan’s tenure with the All-Americans 2 allowed him to continue with the team as it progressed to the professional ranks and transitioned into become Miami Effect. Miami Effect made a multi-player blockbuster trade and sent Ryan to the Philadelphia Americans in June of 2005. The Americans would prove to be Ryanís catapult to professional paintball success. 2010 will bring a new era for Ryan as he will be changing teams once again and suiting up for the Canadian powerhouse, Edmonton Impact.

Bear D’Egidio

Bear D’Egidio, started playing paintball at the age of 8 years old, and competing in world-class tournament competitions at the age of 10. As one of the youngest players in the circuit he has accomplished more then any other paintball player at his age, Owning and operating a Tournament paintball series on the west coast, called the Bearscup, and playing professional paintball at the same time. Being a world champion and training 4 days a week at his fathers paintball parks Giant Paintball and SC Village he is definitely a force to be noticed and around the game for a long time.

Frank “The Tank” Connell

Frank “The Tank” Connell started playing paintball back in the late 80’s. He worked his way up the ranks and started playing professional paintball in 1993 with the Jacksonville Warriors. After winning the 5 man World Championships in 1995 Frank moved on to play for the All Americans where he won countless tournaments all over the world. The All Americans changed their names to the Philly Americans when the NXL was formed and Frank lead his team to back to back NXL World Championships. He decided that after winning his last Championship it was time to leave Philly Americans and play elsewhere. He jumped around for a year playing with teams like Infamous, Arsenal, Strange, Image and Naughty Dogs. After that he went to play for Dynasty and won a NPPL World Championship with them. Frank is considered on of the best back players of all time and has won more tournaments then almost anyone in paintball history.