Pre-season Interview #7 - Kitchener Recon

     This interviewee is well known amongst the Canadian paintball community for his dedication to the sport of paintball. He is a player, a team owner, a coach, and a store owner, all of which point to his passion for seeing the paintball world thrive! Nelson Fonseca’s paintball journey began 6 years ago when he started playing MXL for the first time for Kitchener Recon in the CXBL and for his own team Bronx Hate in the AXBL. 
     Fonseca entered the world of paintball a little later in life than most of the athletes he plays against and he says, “If I had to say one thing I wish was different, it would only be that I wish I had found this sport sooner in my life.” Nelson’s age hasn’t held him back though, he is known for being a solid back player and his passion for the sport is in no short supply.  Nelson and his Kitchener Recon counterparts won the MXL division in 2009 and made the bump to the CXBL in the 2010 season, even proceeding to make the NAX championships that same year! Fonseca purchased the Recon franchise when they were still an MXL squad and is still a proud owner and member of the team. He also owns and coaches Mississauga Hate in the RXL division and helps to give leadership and coaching to this year’s Waterloo Wolves-MXL, Essex Distortion-RXL, and Pretrolia Pirates-CX4. He says, “This makes for some really busy weekends. Since the start of the outdoor season, I’ve been at the field both Saturday and Sunday from morning until night. But it’s worth it for the love of the sport.” 
     Most recently, Nelson made the decision to open Recon Paintball, a paintball store in Kitchener, Ontario. He explains, “It’s another way of me trying to help the sport grow. The more people that are exposed to the sport the better; people will want to try something new. I love this sport so much; I only want to see it continue to grow.” Be sure to check out Recon Paintball on Facebook or hop into the store to say hello and check out some of the great products. It is clear that while Nelson began his paintball journey later than most, his is an adventure that is far from over. 

 Nelson- Thanks for fitting this into your busy schedule! You are a truly dedicated and passionate player and I know you are a role model to many of the younger teams. 

 

Photo Credit: One Shot Photography

• What have you been doing as a team during the off-season to prepare for the 2012 CXBL season?

 “Well to be truthful Recon took some much needed time off this past off season; a lot of the guys are in University and College so they needed to focus on that.  Although we did have a few practices in the off season, some of the team did attend a lot of our junior teams’ practices and joined in with them in order to keep rolling our guns and keep some of the rust off.  A couple of us played in events such as in Thailand and NPPL events with other teams.”

What have you been doing as an individual to prepare for the coming season?

“Haha, I’m getting too old for this, so I have a lot more to do in order to keep being able to play and at least try to keep up with the younger guys.  Then there is all the preparation, scheduling practices, figuring out layouts and all that fancy stuff.”

• What do you feel is your team’s greatest strength headed into this season?

 “Recon’s greatest strength going into this season, like the past season is for the most part we’ve all been playing together now for several years, aside from picking up a few players this season even those we are and have been friends with for quite some time now. Given the fact we are all very close to each other, we know how each player plays and we can pretty much almost read a teammate’s mind and know what his every move is going to be.”

    

• Which team do you feel will be your greatest competition this season and why?

 “I would have to say, and I think everyone will agree, the Tremblant Cowboys- they have made some really amazing moves when it comes to their roster, but it really comes down to what happens at the event, each match is anyone’s for the taking, just depends how bad you want it.  I think if we stay out of the penalty box we should do fine against them.”

• Which team do you feel will be the weakest this season and why?

“I don’t think any team this season is a weak team, all teams have done what they can in their power in order to stay competitive in the league, with the vast number of pro players coming into Canada to play this season, I think it’s anyone’s for the taking, once again a lot of teams are hungry for the W’s and all teams are going to be competitive in the league this season.”

• Which player on your own team do you most respect as a player and why?

 “This is an unfair question we have a roster of 14 players right now and I respect them all the same, my team mates are like family to me and I hold the utmost respect equally for all of them.”

•  Were there any changes this off-season that surprised you? For example, roster changes or league changes.

 “Nothing really that stands out, all the roster changes were expected as teams needed to make appropriate moves in order to maintain a competitive standard that other teams have set.  Each year more and more pro’s from the US are coming into Canada to play in the league, primarily because they know the league is well run and is the original format of  X-Ball.  As far as the league changes, I think the league goes to great lengths to cater to the players and make it the best league to play in.”

•    Is there anything else you would like to add?

“Just like to say thanks to the BUYPBL, CXBL, Flagraiders and Commando Paintball for putting on such great events each and every year. As well I’d like to say good luck to all teams in the league this year; it’s going to be interesting to see the outcome of all divisions this year.”

Thank you, Nelson. I appreciate you making the time to answer my questions. All the best to the Recon camp in the 2012 season! I'd also like to wish you the best of luck with your new store Recon Paintball!

Signing off, 

The Paintball Wife