Desert Edge invited as the Opfor at the Elite Weekend.

Special Ops had an idea: Why not bring paintball enthusiasts, from all across the nation, together for an opportunity to spend a few days learning from recognized experts in the field. Then, put the lessons learned into practice, right then and there, on the playing field. This idea is what spawned the "Elite Weekend" concept. The first "Elite Weekend" was held from June 22 through June 24, 2007. Sixty lucky participants came to the Salt Lake area to attend what really became the University of Paintball. After touring the Special Ops factory on Friday morning, each participant was completely outfitted in new gear, including a new Tippmann X7, and then transported up to the SpecOps Bountiful field to learn and to play. Of course, they had to play against someone...

Desert Edge (DE) was asked to provide the opposing force (OP4) roll for the Elite Weekend players (EWP), and to provide extra manpower where ever needed. Team Captain, "Danger Dan" Saunders, also taught the clinic for team commanders. Activities for the DE team began on Friday afternoon when they reffed an hour-long SPPL formatted game. That night, DE became the OP4 for the Night Vision clinic. DE players (who did not have night vision) defended a bunker complex, mostly by throwing LOTS of paint at any movement - real or imagined - that they thought they saw. EWP were, for the most part, not familiar with the correct use of night vision scopes, so they had limited success in penetrating the DE defenses. DE members were provided with free paint and air so there was no restraint as they fired into the darkness. It was a lot of fun, though all agree that a better format for the exercise needs to be employed next year. Perhaps a format with the rolls reversed and the EWP with night vision scopes await the OP4 to assult them?

On Saturday, the EWP were divided into six 10-person squads. Each squad then rotated through six different events. DE provided the OP4 for the sniper course and the bunker assault course. The sniper course was conducted by Jayson Orvis himself. Rob Worthington aka. "Ren" from DE provided the technical expertise on the Longbow and Q-bow rifles used by the EWP. Their duty was to take their weapons and lay a sniper ambush designed to defeat the OP4 force that was moving down a set course. To kill the commander of the OP4 force, or to delay them long enough (8 minutes) so they couldn't reach the end of the course meant victory for the EWP. This process was repeated three times by each EWP team, the object being to improve each time. Of course, DE was also improving, and by the end of the morning, it was not uncommon for DE to 'win' and average of two of the three trials. In the middle section of the second game, Brad "Bad Mojo" Oakley located and picked off five snipers using his Double Trouble. Jayson Orvis slapped an ELITE badge on Brad's vest, stating: "I have NEVER seen a Double Trouble used that effectively before."

The bunker assault included a short clinic given by Monty Doome from Seattle Washinton. After the 10 minute breifing the 10 EWP would have 30 minutes to assult a large spread of bunkers and pull a flag defended by 5 DE players. If the flag was pulled, the tables would turn and the EWP were to defend the flag for the remainder of the game. Two teams completed the objective and were gracious for the fun game. On the last and final game on the bunker assult course, the EWP reched the flag and made the pull. After pushing the DE players into the elimination zone DE players realized their only hope of getting out was to sacrifice 2-3 players at the sound of the re-spawn horn, as 2 other players were to make a dead sprint to as far from the area as possible.

Tim Saunders aka. T-Bone recalls, "I new the other players had far superior positioning than me by this point, and out gunning them was out of the question. So I knew my only hope of survival was my legs. As soon as the respawn was called, I made an all-out sprint along the top edge of the course to the south end with hopes to suprize teh EWP from behind.

"After making it passed their fire, I overheard some talk that the respawn was coming in the next minute, so I layed down behind the EWP elimination zone hoping they wouldn't find me. I knew they were aware that a player made it out of the gun fight, but I had no idea if they knew whether or not I was alive so I played it safe. After about a mintute following the EWP respawn and realizing nobody was after me, I made my way back to the flag from the back side of my enemies.

"As I krept down the hill past Monty and the refs, I could see their jaws drop behind their masks to see me work my flank from that far south of my elim zone. Knowing that my only hope to make it any where by myself, I had to cover as much ground as I could, So I bounced to the lower tape Eliminating one player on my way up. As hopeless as it seems, I wanted to pull that flag, so after exposing my position from my fire, I made another sprint to the lower north corner.

"By this time, I could see at least 6 heads spreading to different angles closing in on me. Not only was I way out-numbered and out-angled, but they were now shooting down hill on me once a fire fight began. This far in the game, I knew they had won the fight, so as soon as I had a clear shot at a player I open fired at him only to open the wrath of the rest of the assult team who was just waiting for any sound to blow my cover which by eliminating me, ended the game.

"After heading to the HQ, Monty and Chad Monson shook my hand with an ELITE patch concealed in Monty's hand. They gave me a huge congrats, and expressed how impressed they were with what they had just seen."

On Sunday, everything learned during the past two days was put to use in a huge scenario game held at a private SpecOps field in the Uintah mountains. The Desert Edge players were assigned to one of the teams, forming a specialized squad tasked with one assignment: To capture and hold a "training facility" located at the center of the field. Because of some crossed communications, part of the DE squad got separated from the main group. That mistake proved to be fortunate since they captured a medical facility first, before moving on to rejoin their other teammates that now held the training facility. Desert edge players were able to defend and hold the facility for the full four hours of the game's duration. This, despite repeated ground attacks, occasional strafing by a helicopter and several attacks from SpecOp's "Razor Back" tank. This tough defense contributed to a rather lopsided win by the team that DE assisted.

At the end of the day, all the players and staff were brought together for an awards ceremony. Team Desert Edge received its share of recognition for its efforts. As everyone began departing for their far-flung homes, it was unanimously agreed that this should become an annual event!

Team Desert Edge awarded Tim Saunders aka. T-Bone for the Event MVP.

Story by Brad Oakley aka. Bad Mojo & Tim Saunders aka. T-Bone