Editing Steve Rabackoff (section)

== Tournament promotion ==

=== Gulf Coast tournament series ===

Rabackoff organised regional paintball competition in Texas, including the '''Gulf Coast 5-Man Tournament Series'''.

The series formed part of his broader involvement in developing organised tournament paintball at regional level.[1]

=== Mardi Gras Open ===

Rabackoff was the creator and promoter of the '''Mardi Gras Open''', a major American tournament held near New Orleans, Louisiana.

The event became one of the larger five-player competitions of its period.

The 2001 edition attracted 171 five-player teams and was held at the Alario Center, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.[13]

Rabackoff was responsible for aspects of tournament organisation and venue preparation.

Contemporary WARPIG reporting documented his involvement in developing the playing-field infrastructure, including the installation of safety netting supported by telephone poles and steel cables.

During preparations for the 2001 event, independent testing revealed that some of the netting was unable to withstand paintball impacts.

Organisers consequently required players and spectators near the fields to wear protective goggles rather than relying on the netting as an adequate barrier.[13]

The tournament continued during the early 2000s and became part of the wider American professional paintball calendar.