Vanaheim in Paris July 2005

The plan for a trip abroad for one of the major tournaments formed in the cold winter. We wanted to play in one Millennium Series event, and most of all the legendary Toulouse event. Finally the dates for the different legs was set and we settled for the July event in Toulouse, but then they changed the resort to Paris and Eurodisney. But hey, lets go there then.

We started to plan the trip, and the tickets where booked in April. Found a cheap but nice hotel just 2 km outside the park. The journey went well from Sandefjord over Amsterdam to Ch.de Gaulle. Transport was ordered from the airport to the hotel, and after some trouble locating the hotel we settled in.

Thursday:
Thursday morning we headed for the fields. And what a site. Huge. Large trade area and players area. We got registered and started to walk the five different fields. Since most of our games were at the main field, the Millennium field, most time was spent there. Between the field walking, we did some shopping. They say that France have a great cuisine but we sure didn't find it. So McDonalds became the main supplier of food. Not too tasty though.

Friday:
The first match day, and Vanaheim had been placed in the afternoon pool. We went to the fields early for more shopping and watching other teams playing. Against our belief, we bought new ramping boards to match the brand new Millennium rules. Not exactly too happy about that. To get some more rest and install the new boards, we went back to the hotel. All teams had their own, named space (tent) at the players area, and we got ready for the first game ... as almost always at paintball tournaments, not on time. Two hours late, we entered the field for the first game against a Div 3 team, resulting in a lucky draw (hot marker).
We then lost to the sweeds Maharadjas in a close game.
The 3rd match we headed for the Millennium field and London Tigers Young Guns. Finally our first victory and a morale boost.
The last game for the day was against our country fellows, Pro team Menace. We had a successful break, taking out their guy heading for the snake and getting Pastoren (Pål) to the 50. He did some serious damage from this position, alone taking out 3 guys almost right away. Great play! One after one was sent to the dead-box till they eventually only had only one left, Frank, I think, at the left back, putting up quite a fight. Finally he was taken out and we had still 4 players standing. Great! Yeah ... we were ecstatic.

Saturday:
The next day we had the morning pool and were at the fields early. 4 games came .. and 4 games went away with our heads down. The last game against FL Charms we went into their outlasting trap even though it lasted 6:20. Close but no cigar. After day one we were well placed among the teams qualified for the sunday play-offs, but this day's poor show led us plunging out of the picture. Some of the guys used this "opportunity" to make a lot out of that night players party.

Sunday:
The sunday games had to be from the stands, cheering Maharadjas to the Div 2 finals. The sun now broke through the clouds practically for the first time this weekend, making it so hot we were glad the prelims were clouded anyway.

After watching the finals on sunday, Trond, Kent and Roar headed for Paris for some sightseeing. We had to see the Eiffel tower :-) The rest of the team headed for the main players party.

Those who went to Paris were:
Kent (Kontil)
Trond (Nalle)
Pål Jørgen (Polly)
Stian (Timon)
Bård (Bjeff)
Pål (Pastoren)
Henrik (Zombie)
Roar (Bruttern) as coach

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