Steamboat Pilot & Today

Don't be alarmed if you hear calls for a medic coming from a warehouse in Copper Ridge Business Park. The shouts most likely will be from groups of paintball players enjoying a game at the new indoor Off the Couch Paintball facility.

Nick Hinds, owner of Off the Couch Paintball, thinks his business will address one of the recreational needs of the area.

The facility is Routt County's only indoor paintball facility, which means games can be played comfortably year round. And there's no need for players to wear typical paintball gear. The ammunition Hinds provides players is reusable foam pellets, as opposed to the traditional paint-filled balls that explode on contact.

The foam pellets eliminate the mess made during traditional paintball games, and they also make the sport a little more affordable.

"With paint, you can easily spend $100 for two hours," Hinds said.

Off the Couch Paintball will hold drop-by sessions Tuesday and Wednesday nights. For $20, a player can play for two hours in the warehouse adorned with stacks of tires for cover and walls decorated with graffiti murals.

There is room for about 16 players to compete at a time. Hinds expects group sales to be a large part of his business, and he will allow groups to reserve the facility.

"It's almost like the bowling alley," Hinds said. "Just call for reservations."

Hinds, who works in marketing and advertising at Paddler magazine, opened the paintball business after an old employer of his from North Carolina gave him all the necessary equipment, including guns and helmets.

There are seemingly endless paintball games clients can play at Off the Couch Paintball. Capture the flag and tag are common varieties, as is medic, in which players can come back in the game after getting tagged by a team member who has not been shot.

Hinds recommends players wear clothing that covers the skin -- the foam pellets travel at high speeds and can cause pain and bruises on impact.

Off the Couch Paintball is at 2625 Copper Ridge Circle South, Unit C. Take Elk River Road to the Elk River Farm and Feed store. Turn right, and the facility is on the backside of the Big Agnes warehouse. Call Off the Couch Paintball at 875-1177.