Each region of the country (eastern, central, and western regions) will have three major events. And at the end of the year, the top teams from each region will compete in a circuit championship finale.

"For three years in a row, over 300 teams have participated in the GWS, and there has been strong player demand across the country to expand the circuit. The year 2000 is a great time for a true national amateur circuit built on the successful format of the GWS," said Maynard.

PanAm Circuit teams will compete under a series-wide point system, which will lead to three separate regional championships as well as a national championship. Categories will be 5-man Amateur, Novice, and Rookie. Also, the PanAm Circuit will offer two other series events, the Young-Guns League (for players under 15 years of age) and the Stock-Gun league. "The PanAm Circuit will support the continued healthy growth of tournament paintball, because it is designed for players with different age and experience levels," said co-director Dan Bonebrake.

In 1999, the Great Western consisted of five major and 25 minor events, with the championship finale set for Hawaii in November 1999. More than 100 new teams joined the GWS circuit at the rookie level in 1999. The format is "bring your own paint," with all PanAm sponsoring paintball companies allowed to sell paint at each event on a non-exclusive basis. Prize packages for each major event are guaranteed to be at least $25,000 worth of product, with that amount rising as participation rises.

Like the GWS, the PanAm Circuit will continue the well-received limited paint format in all events. "Limiting the paint and keeping the entry fees low are two reasons why GWS tournaments are so affordable, competitive and popular," said Dan and Russ. They predict that over 1,000 teams from across America and Canada will compete in the new PanAm Circuit.

To learn more about the Great Western Series and next year's PanAm Circuit, visit their web site at greatwesternseries.com. Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Dan Bonebrake at (888) 370-8749 or Russ Maynard at (800) 899-9957.