Alex Lundqvist
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean from
Sweden to New York, Alex Lundqvist has found his place in the world of fashionable
paintball attire as well as on the field as a player. Currently part of pro
team Ground Zero (GZ) Black along with his brother Max, his story is
about living a dream with his best friend and brother.
Back in Sweden after watching the movie Gotcha, which had some paintball in it, Lundqvist immediately fell in love with the sport and convinced his brother Max to follow the same passion, and to buy a PGP Pump paintball marker. With no competition, Lundqvist, his brother and their friends would compete in the back yard.
A love for paintball 
After two years of this lonely competition paintball started to take off in
Sweden and the group decided to put a team together and hit the tournament scene.
Taking on Joy Division, the best team in Sweden, and persevering, the group
got picked up to play on the same side as the team that they had just defeated.
With Max continuing his paintball career with Joy Division, Lundqvist was taken away to start his own career in New York; paintball taking the back burner.
Ground Zero Black
Getting reintroduced to the sport through the Angel marker with Max's help,
Lundqvist's paintball focus once again became clear. This drive took him to
World Cup three years ago and many more places since with team Ground Zero.
Playing with a novice
team at his return to paintball debut at World Cup, Lundqvist found himself
facing off against GZ in the very first game. ¡§I was the last guy on my team
on the field and I shot the four remaining GZ players and got the hang,¡¨ Lundqvist
reminisced. Seeing the talent this player possessed, GZ invited Lundqvist to
start practicing with GZ Silver. Moving up in ranks, Lundqvist is now part of
the GZ Black pro team. Looking for more talent the team picked up Max, reuniting
them on and off the paintball field.
Looking forward to X Ball
Looking to the future of the sport, Lundqvist sees it as X Ball. ¡§X Ball is
the future of the sport. It is so much fun playing and watching X Ball and it
is a TV friendly version of paintball,¡¨ Lundqvist speculated. Furthering his
comments, ¡§X Ball is a really physically fit version of paintball.¡¨ GZ with
Lundqvist part of the roster will be playing the National X Ball League (NXL)
throughout the 2003 season as New York Xtreme.
Playing
the Field
While looking forward to the X Ball format, Lundqvist takes a mid to back position.
Making it to the top Lundqvist shares some advice for others aspiring to reach
the sky. ¡§Practice as much as possible, learn to shoot lefty and do running
drills. It is important to ask good players and good teams for advice. Pro teams
are really cool with the kids, so ask.¡¨ He stressed overall the necessity of
gaining parental support to help the sport grow. Now feeling paintball is becoming
a community, it is great to see parents taking their kids to play paintball.
A great example of this is Bob and Zach Long playing on the same professional
paintball team.
GZ on the Break
Lundqvist has followed his advice on a daily basis. ¡§I love to play. I get
to meet great people and I get to go surfing with Rocky [Cagnoni]. I will stay
in the sport as long as possible and then I will coach my kids,¡¨ Lundqvist
dreams. Also, paintball has provided a way Lundqvist and his brother to stay
close. ¡§I love playing with him [Max], we are best friends and I hated playing
against him.¡¨
Bunker King's Leopard Print 
Not only does he hit it up on the field he has also made a name for himself
with his unique designs of paintball attire. The Lundqvist duo joined up with
teammate Will Arroyo found a need and a niche with their brand, Bunker King.
¡§I studied graphic design and Will, Max and I started making t-shirts, hats
and headbands. We saw a need in paintball, there wasn't enough cool stuff out
there.¡¨ With the staple being the leopard print head bands, Lundqvist boasts
that, with Bunker King, "we make stuff that we like playing in and wearing
ourselves."
Paintball is Amazing
Aspiring to play paintball and also hit the design world, Lundqvist has made
it. Summing it up, Lundqvist declared, ¡§Paintball is amazing, I couldn't live
without it and it is an exciting time for the sport.¡¨
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