This
interviewee is a relative newcomer to the competitive side of paintball however,
what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in drive. Nicholas Gascon began
his paintball journey in British Columbia when he was 13 years old. He was
invited to try out some woodsball in Northern BC and he found himself hooked.
He started playing every weekend and eventually met up with a great group of
guys who shared his passion. Together they bought a speedball field which they
proceeded to set up and tear down every single weekend. They called themselves
Six Shootahs originally and this team still exists today as a division one team
in the CPPL under a new name-6S.
Gascon’s Six Shootahs days had to come to an end when he moved to Ontario but as we all know, his paintball career was only just beginning. As Nick says, he is “one of the lucky ones” and he was adopted right into Kitchener Recon when it was an MXL team in 2008. Of his acceptance onto the Recon squad, Gascon said “One post on a Tdotballers forum and a reply from Nelson Fonseca (Recon team owner) and I never looked further.” In 2009 the Recon group won the title in MXL and moved into the CXBL division for 2010 thus beginning Nick’s career as a CXBL caliber athlete. So while Gascon is a relatively new face at the CXBL level, he has demonstrated his potential and his drive for this sport.
Nick is known for being a team-player and for his encouragement of his fellow athletes. He has made the switch to play for Medonte Ntwo Factor this year. With the switch in teams, we will also see a switch in Gascon’s typical position. Those of us who have witnessed him play in the CXBL know him to be a snake-side player but this year we can expect to see him up on his feet, working the dorito side of the field.
Nick describes Ntwo as being extremely well organized which could certainly benefit them in the season to come. Gascon said that Ntwo also has some amazing leadership including Wes Elliott and Shayne Salmon who tend to take on more of a captain role as well as direction and coaching from Ron and Wayne, the co-owners of the team. While they are the central MXL winners of 2011, they have several CXBL-experienced players rostered this season and the Ntwo roster still has some space to add players for the season ahead. While Gascon declined to comment on whether Ntwo will be joining many of the CXBL Elite teams in bringing in talent from the South, he did say, “RXL, MXL, and CXBL rosters are yet to be finalized. Stay posted to the CXBL website for any updates.” I suspect that we may see some interesting additions to the team.
Gascon’s Six Shootahs days had to come to an end when he moved to Ontario but as we all know, his paintball career was only just beginning. As Nick says, he is “one of the lucky ones” and he was adopted right into Kitchener Recon when it was an MXL team in 2008. Of his acceptance onto the Recon squad, Gascon said “One post on a Tdotballers forum and a reply from Nelson Fonseca (Recon team owner) and I never looked further.” In 2009 the Recon group won the title in MXL and moved into the CXBL division for 2010 thus beginning Nick’s career as a CXBL caliber athlete. So while Gascon is a relatively new face at the CXBL level, he has demonstrated his potential and his drive for this sport.
Nick is known for being a team-player and for his encouragement of his fellow athletes. He has made the switch to play for Medonte Ntwo Factor this year. With the switch in teams, we will also see a switch in Gascon’s typical position. Those of us who have witnessed him play in the CXBL know him to be a snake-side player but this year we can expect to see him up on his feet, working the dorito side of the field.
Nick describes Ntwo as being extremely well organized which could certainly benefit them in the season to come. Gascon said that Ntwo also has some amazing leadership including Wes Elliott and Shayne Salmon who tend to take on more of a captain role as well as direction and coaching from Ron and Wayne, the co-owners of the team. While they are the central MXL winners of 2011, they have several CXBL-experienced players rostered this season and the Ntwo roster still has some space to add players for the season ahead. While Gascon declined to comment on whether Ntwo will be joining many of the CXBL Elite teams in bringing in talent from the South, he did say, “RXL, MXL, and CXBL rosters are yet to be finalized. Stay posted to the CXBL website for any updates.” I suspect that we may see some interesting additions to the team.
Nick-It is
refreshing to see young talent like you pushing hard with such a positive
attitude in the CXBL. I look forward to seeing you continue to thrive in this
very competitive division!
Photo Credit:
One Shot Photography
- What have you been doing as a team during the
off-season to prepare for the 2012 CXBL season?"N2 Factor has been:- The main goal of the off-season is to bring the players from last year’s winning MXL season up to the CXBL calibre. Using a mix of CXBL player talent and coaching experience from Ron Guy, Medonte has been training every weekend at the Soldier Gear Xball field in Barrie. We do this by performing a number of drills working on laning, communication, field awareness, aggressive/conservative plays, and field isolation.-We also prepare for CXBL by building trust and cooperation in teammates through team bonding. It is important that a team becomes friends off the paintball field, so we incorporate barbecues into the end of each practice (thanks to excellent chefs Wayne and Wes) to hang out and go over what we just learned."
- What have you been doing as an individual to prepare for the coming
season?
"Just like every player, we all have our kinks to work out. I have been using a gym membership for strength training – similar to a Plyometrics routine of running, jumping, squats, etc... combined with an overall core workout. I need to build up stamina and agility to play back-to-back points and extra games considering there are only 3 events this year (will be much more grueling). Also, every paintball counts, so I have invested into a new marker and tank to ensure upmost reliability on the field."
- What do you feel is your team’s greatest strength headed into
this season?
"Last year, I witnessed N2 Factor win the MXL title. One of many reasons they won is their ability to work in synchronization—something I call a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine. Each player has an important role and when done correctly is an artwork. This is Medonte’s greatest strength for the new season because I am confident it is still the well-oiled machined from last season."
- Which team do you feel will be your greatest competition this season and
why?
"Our biggest competition will be the veteran teams. If I were to choose only one, I’m assuming Windsor Lockdown will be the toughest contenders with their extremely stacked roster of Pro and Division 1 equivalent players (former Toronto Rage). They have been playing CXBL and PSP for a long time now and understand the game more than any other team. They will truly be a tough competitor for years to come."
- Which team do you feel will be the weakest
this season and why?
"This is tough to say. Players move around to different teams, franchises change ownership, and bunkers are modified making the game change on the field. It is too early to tell who will be fighting for relegation this season. I feel it is safe to say it could be a number of potentials this year."
- Which player on your own team do you most respect as a player and why?
"I respect all the players equally based on their playing ability. However, there is one that I have greater respect for. Andrew Thorne is a fantastic father. He brings Khenlee to every practice and event. Thorne also lets him come on the field and experience what it is like to step in his father’s shoes. It is clear that their bond as father and son is something special, and Andrew is an idol fatherly-figure I look forward to replicate the same for my family one day."
- Were there any changes this off-season that surprised you? For example,
roster changes or league changes.
"I am happy to see the CXBL players now able to wear their own name on the back of the jersey. This is a step in the right direction. Now younger players can recognize more clearly their star on the field. Moreover, CXBL players have a greater spotlight for themselves and a higher responsibility as Canadian professionals. How players act on and off the field will be more noticed now, and thus greater care must be placed on being respectful because they represent the CXBL league."
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
"I would just like to say thank you to Ron, Wayne, and the N2 camp for the opportunity to play with them, to our sponsor Backcountry paintball, and to you Niki for the opportunity to speak in your blog!"Thank you, Nick! It was a pleasure to interview you. I think you are a player with exemplary character and I trust that your team-centered personality will be an asset to Ntwo this season!Signing off,The Paintball Wife
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