This week, I have the pleasure of featuring Kirill Prihidni in my newsletter. Kirill has been incredible with his commentary on the state of paintball and it’s direction over the years. He also personally helped me with advice when my buddies and I were putting together a reball training facility a few years ago. In every podcast appearance he’s ever done, he always has a unique perspective that I just can’t get enough of and we really need to do a better job of listening to these types of players. Here are some of his un-edited thoughts on the game.
Q&A with Kirill Prihidni of Red Legion
Red Legion has been incredibly consistent as of late. What do you think the team needed in order to consistently make deep runs into Sunday?
“Honestly, we just need to use our Kung-Fu correctly. Such an active style of the game that we have being known for is extremely hard to operate. Some times it works perfectly vs some opponents. Some times it’s simply does not feet the game style of another team and we need to fix it in the moment of the game. That’s the hardest part. But all at the same time this is what we focus in training process recently.”
Your team runs a solid starting five every event. What makes that possible considering RL employs a strategy that involves playing a lot of points?
“Interesting that I have already being answering such a questions 20 years ago. Everybody known that back than, but now we need to refresh the concept aloud.
In 2004 the unique athletic preparation system has being created. Since those days in TOP moments for the team, the core has being practicing 5 days a week with fitness / specifics and team drills. Nowadays we are capable to maintain such a level due to the same process. Yes. We get older, but the process works.”
With the addition of the American players you guys have picked up over the last few years, how do you believe the team will evolve with them on the roster?
“Our main intention is to create our own players with mutual training ethics and loyalty to the Club. We invest lots of the best experience in future athletes that will be playing a significant active style and we expect young generation to respect the Club interests.”
A few years ago you sent me some of the reballs that you use in Russia. As an avid reball user, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how do you think reball drill sessions and training have helped the team?
“Oh! We have started to use a REball process in Moscow during the winter time and all year long after back in 2019 when we were forced to count the expenses. It’s being a breakthrough. You do not train in dirt and wet weather conditions. It’s always dry / warm / clean and bright. You focus ONLY at the coaches program and your skills to perfect. Since 2019 we have worked out the best balance for the new training routine: 65% of time on REballs to set up the muscle memory right with millions shots. 15% is for local the team practices to test your skills in real conditions. 20% of PREtournament prep when we go to NXL events.”
RL was one of the teams featured in the ESPN show from last season. What do you think needs to happen with the sport of paintball to see that kind of coverage really take off?
“Yes. We have being honored by overall American community to be able to be there. Those are an amazing feelings, because we must be the villains to be honest. And this is what ESPN is talking about right now. Audience needs to get emotionally connected to the action that they see. So into the future the League must give roles to THE PRO teams to follow. Without this spark - there will be no usual interest.”
You have been vocal over the years about things in paintball that need to change or evolve. Do you have anything you feel isn't talked about that you'd like to share?
“Thank you for such an high mark about my role, sir. It means that some of my words are reaching the correct ears world wide. To be honest there is a simply concept of MSS - Multy Shooting Sports direction. When Paintball does not exists on its own. For decades the auditory in US does not radically change. But we all understand that we need to double the numbers for the growth. The only way to do it is to connect bubbles of paintball / speedsoft / laser tag / nerf and hydro ball. Because each of those directions is basically about the same Multy Functional Shooting Sports, but with its own fans and ages involved. The best part is that ONLY PAINTBALL can provide a valuable leagues and proper organization. That’s why in the future there must be a pyramid of development to be created. You start from gell blasters and nerf as a kid. As a teenager your can run laser tag. You gain correct skills and game understanding. And then you make a choice in between speedsoft and paintball. Means where to be and what way to compete. These pyramid will structure many things / unite bubbles that hardly connected and create on big mutual auditory of different ages and interests.”
For aspiring PRO players, what do you think they need to do to make sure they have viable skill sets that PRO teams are looking for?
“Make sure you guys having a correct training process that guides you through the technical and team skills every other week of the month. Without such a basement you can’t get constant growth / objective reaction to current failures and pool for the future generations.”
RL has had a system that it's implemented to make sure its players are as prepared as possible for tournaments. What do you think is something that most American teams/programs get wrong when it comes to preparation? Also, with your unique perspective I'd like to know if that differs from European teams.
“I shall be 100% honest, sir. Asking the community to understand me right and do not be angry. American PRO SPORTS system hasn’t changed since I have seeing it 25 years ago. You guys still making it as a HOBBY. Because you do it randomly some weekends. But the true sport is about USUAL routine on the week and not only. The way is completely understood, because this is the system for local clubs, but if you really want to do the SPORT you should change the paradigm and produce new services for an ambitious local potential athletes. The same is for Euro, but with some valuable changes. For example more and more Clubs there open up the REball halls to provide the comfortable training service cheaper / all week long and all season!”
Author: BRANDON OLSON
Source: https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-ft-kirill-prihidni