Dan Bonebrake

Dan Bonebrake is an American paintball entrepreneur, tournament promoter and equipment specialist based in Oregon. He is known for his involvement in the Great Western Series, Pan Am Paintball Circuit, Xtreme Paintball Sports League (XPSL) and SuperGame, as well as his work in the paintball equipment industry through Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing and Warpaint International.[1][2][3]

Bonebrake joined the Great Western Series as a promotional partner in 1997 and subsequently became the principal promoter of its successor competitions. He also operated paintball facilities and developed a range of customised paintball markers and components during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[1][4]

Paintball career

Planet Paintball and Enchanted Acres

During the 1990s, Bonebrake operated Planet Paintball, a paintball business in Oregon, and was associated with Enchanted Acres Paintball Park in Scappoose, near Portland.

In September 1997, Enchanted Acres hosted a Great Western Series tournament featuring five-player and 10-player competitions.

The tournament experienced delays caused by insufficient compressed-air capacity. Bonebrake, identified in contemporary reporting as the owner of Planet Paintball, responded by refunding entry fees to the 10-player teams and offering to reimburse the travel expenses of visiting teams.[5]

In 1998, Bonebrake and Elizabeth (Liz) Bonebrake were identified as the owners of Enchanted Acres. The facility again hosted a Great Western Series tournament and was scheduled to accommodate an event in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL).[6]

Great Western Series (1997–1999)

Bonebrake became a partner in the Great Western Series in 1997, joining its founder Russell Maynard.

Established in 1991, the series organised regional tournament competition throughout the western United States, including events in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.[1]

The competition primarily used five-player and 10-player formats with restrictions on the quantity of paintballs players could carry.

The series also permitted teams to bring their own paintballs, reducing costs compared with competitions requiring the purchase of event-supplied paint.[2]

In 1999, the organisation expanded its promotional partnership to include Liz Bonebrake and Jessica Sparks. This restructuring led to the establishment of the Pan Am Paintball Circuit.[1]

Pan Am Paintball Circuit (1999–2003)

Bonebrake continued as a promoter of the Pan Am Paintball Circuit following its establishment.

The circuit initially attempted to expand beyond the western United States but subsequently concentrated on its established regional venues.[1]

Pan Am retained the limited-paint, bring-your-own-paint format associated with the Great Western Series.

By 2002, Bonebrake and Russell Maynard were responsible for major competition decisions, including the authority to issue player suspensions.[7]

Following organisational changes during 2002, Bonebrake became the circuit's principal promoter by the end of 2003.[2]

During the 2003 season, he introduced seven-player, unlimited-paint competition to replace the existing 10-player division, reflecting changes occurring within the NPPL's Super 7 format. The five-player division retained its 200-paintball-per-player limit.[8]

Xtreme Paintball Sports League (2004–2006)

In 2004, the Pan Am circuit was reorganised as the Xtreme Paintball Sports League (XPSL).

The revised series adopted seven-player competition based on NPPL rules while retaining its bring-your-own-paint policy.

Bonebrake continued as promoter and brought Shawn Walker into the organisation during the 2004 season. Walker became head of operations before the final two tournaments of that year.[2][9]

For 2005, the league secured Proto Paintball as title sponsor and operated as the Proto XPSL.

The circuit continued providing regional competition for amateur and developing tournament teams.[9]

Bonebrake subsequently sold the XPSL to Shawn Walker. Contemporary NPPL coverage in March 2007 identified Walker as the league's owner before its acquisition by Pacific Paintball LLC in January of that year.[10]

Paintball equipment industry

Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing

Bonebrake operated Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing, a paintball marker customisation and repair business associated with Planet Paintball in Salem, Oregon.

The company specialised in mechanical and pneumatic modifications, particularly for the WGP Autococker and WDP Angel.

By 2000, Custom Products was producing specially machined Autococker bodies for Bonebrake's customised markers.[11]

The Bonebrake Autococker incorporated modifications to its valve, hammer and pneumatic systems, intended to improve reliability and consistency.

The marker was commercially displayed at Pan Am tournaments during 2002.[7]

In January 2002, Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing announced the promotion of Adam Hanson to lead marker technician. Hanson had joined the business in 1997 and contributed to development of the Bonebrake Signature Series Autococker and modifications for electronic Angel markers.[12]

Angel modifications

Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing also developed modifications for the WDP Angel LED, LCD and IR3 markers.

A January 2003 company announcement described modifications including replacement bolts, hammers, low-pressure regulators and valves, together with internal air-flow improvements.

The company also provided technical servicing and warranty work for WDP products.[13]

SuperGame and Warpaint International

Bonebrake became a longstanding organiser of SuperGame, a large-scale recreational and scenario paintball event series originating in Oregon.

Through Warpaint International, he was involved in organising the event and coordinating participants, sponsors and equipment suppliers.

In 2011, Bonebrake was identified as the organiser of SuperGame 41, held from 29 April to 1 May in St. Paul, Oregon.

The event incorporated large-scale scenario games, night play and fundraising activities benefiting Liberty House, an Oregon organisation supporting children affected by abuse.[14]

SuperGame subsequently expanded to additional locations in the United States, while retaining its established Oregon event.

Bonebrake continued his involvement alongside fellow organiser Brian Barno during the 2010s and 2020s.[15]

Bonebrake and Elizabeth Bonebrake have also been identified as the owners of Warpaint International, an Oregon business operating paintball and airsoft facilities and a retail shop.[16]

Recognition

In October 2025, Bonebrake was named among the Growth Era nominees for the 2026 Hall of Icons, a historical recognition programme organised by Iconic Paintball.

The nomination recognised individuals associated with the development of competitive paintball between 1983 and 2002.[17]

References

WARPIG – Pan Am Las Vegas 2002, 4–8 December 2002. Historical account of the Great Western Series, the Pan Am Circuit and their promoters.
WARPIG – XPSL San Jose 2004, by Bill Mills and Jeff Oliver. History of the transition from the Great Western Series to Pan Am and XPSL.
WARPIG – SuperGame 41, 2 May 2011.
WARPIG – Great Western Series Portland 1998. Contemporary tournament coverage identifying Dan and Liz Bonebrake.
WARPIG – The 1997 Great Western Portland Tournament. Contemporary report documenting Bonebrake's ownership of Planet Paintball and the tournament's air supply problems.
WARPIG – GWS Portland 1998. Enchanted Acres field ownership and tournament organisation.
WARPIG – Pan Am Phoenix 2002. Competition rules and Bonebrake Autococker product coverage.
WARPIG – Pan Am Seattle 2003, 25–27 July 2003. Contemporary account of changes to the tournament format.
WARPIG – XPSL Readies for 2005, by Bill Mills, February 2005.
WARPIG – NPPL Huntington Beach 2007, 23–25 March 2007. Documentation of the sale of XPSL and subsequent acquisition by Pacific Paintball LLC.
WARPIG – World Cup 2000 Technical Coverage. Documentation of Custom Products' machining work for Bonebrake Autocockers.
WARPIG – Dan Bonebrake Airsmithing Promotes Marker Technician, 8 January 2002.
WARPIG – Bonebrake Angel Mods Give Your LED, LCD or IR3 New Life!, 30 January 2003.
WARPIG – SuperGame 41, 2 May 2011. Event announcement and organiser information.
WikiPaintball – SuperGame. Historical information and references concerning the event series.
Better Business Bureau – Warpaint International business profile. Identifies Dan and Elizabeth Bonebrake as business owners.
Iconic Paintball – Hall of Icons 2026 Nominees, 13 October 2025.

External links