Yosh Rau

Yosh Rau is an American professional paintball player and equipment industry businessman. He is best known for his longstanding membership of San Diego Dynasty, one of the most successful teams in professional tournament paintball history.

Rau began competing in Northern California during the 1990s, playing for teams including IronKids and KAPP Factory before joining the professional Ironmen. He subsequently became a central member of Dynasty's championship-winning roster.[1][2][3]

He is also a co-owner of Field One Paintball, where he has been involved in paintball marker development, assembly and technical support.[1][4]

Early career

Rau grew up in Northern California and began playing paintball with school friends and neighbourhood players, including Ryan Greenspan, in Sebastopol.

At approximately 15 years of age, he began working as a paintball marker technician at Pacific Paintball, a business later associated with KAPP (Kick Ass Paintball Products). His work included maintaining and repairing Autococker and Automag markers.[1]

Rau and Greenspan subsequently became involved in organised tournament competition at Mare Island Paintball, where field operator Eric Crandall introduced them to Alex Fraige and Oliver Lang.

The group became part of the Northern California tournament scene and competed with IronKids, a youth team that helped develop several future professional players.[1][5]

KAPP Factory

On 27–28 May 2000, Rau competed with KAPP Factory at the inaugural Spyder Cup, held at Three Rivers Paintball near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The five-player squad consisted of:

Brian Cole
Ryan Greenspan
Alex Fraige
Kenny Chamberlain
Yosh Rau

KAPP Factory won the tournament against a field of 99 amateur teams, finishing ahead of Strange, OBR I and Machine.

The team received five Ford Mustang cars as its first-place prize, valued at approximately US$88,000.[2]

The victory was an early national tournament achievement for Rau and several players who would subsequently become associated with Dynasty.

Professional career

Ironmen (2001–2003)

When Dynasty entered professional competition in 2001, Rau did not join the new team alongside several of his former IronKids teammates.

Instead, he joined the Southern California Ironmen, competing alongside players including Shane Pestana, Oliver Lang, Matt Marshall and Rich Telford.

Contemporary coverage of the 2001 NPPL Los Angeles Open specifically identified Rau as an IronKids player who had chosen to compete for the Ironmen rather than Dynasty.[3]

He appeared on the Ironmen's official National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) professional rosters in both 2001 and 2002.[6][7]

Rau remained with the Los Angeles Ironmen during the establishment of the professional X-Ball format. He was listed on the team's roster for the inaugural National Xball League competition at the 2003 Mardi Gras Open in New Orleans, wearing jersey number 6.[8]

San Diego Dynasty

By 2004, Rau had moved to Dynasty, reuniting with several of his former Northern California teammates.

He was associated with Dynasty's successful 2004 European campaign, including the Millennium Series event in Málaga, Spain.[9]

Rau became a longstanding member of Dynasty's professional roster, competing across the NPPL Super 7, Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), Millennium Series and modern National Xball League.

A contemporary roster from the 2006 Smart Parts Paintball World Championships listed Rau as a Dynasty player wearing jersey number 32.[10]

Over the following years, Rau became particularly associated with back-line play, shooting opponents during the opening stages of points and helping his team maintain numerical advantages.

Paintball media has frequently highlighted his ability to remain effective in situations where his team has fewer surviving players than its opponents.[11]

Later championships

Rau continued competing with Dynasty throughout the 2010s and 2020s.

At the 2021 NXL Windy City Major, Dynasty won the professional division. Official NXL reporting identified Rau, Greenspan and Marcello Margott as important members of the team's defensive line.[12]

Rau was also included in Dynasty's official roster for the 2022 NXL World Cup, which the team won against Tampa Bay Damage.[13][14]

Dynasty followed this with another World Cup championship in 2023, completing four consecutive victories at the event. Official player records confirm Rau's participation in the 2023 competition.[15][16]

He continued appearing on Dynasty's professional tournament roster during the 2026 NXL season.[17]

International competition

In addition to his professional career in the United States, Rau has participated in international tournaments and coaching activities.

At the 2008 Circuito Sudamericano de Paintball tournament in São Paulo, Brazil, he competed as a guest player with the Bulldogs, while Dynasty teammate Alex Fraige played for Mercenarios.

Contemporary reporting documented the involvement of both players in the South American competition.[18]

Rau has also participated in international player development activities. According to Field One Paintball, he has coached thousands of players during his career.[1]

Field One Paintball

Rau is a co-owner of Field One Paintball, an American manufacturer established following the acquisition of assets from Bob Long Technologies by members of Dynasty and their associates.

The ownership group has included Rau, Alex Fraige, Ryan Greenspan and Eric Crandall.[4]

Rau's responsibilities have included marker assembly, production, technical support and repairs.

His earlier experience as a paintball marker technician contributed to his involvement in the development of Field One equipment, including the Field One Force marker.[1][4]

He has also been involved in technical education, including the company's online Force marker technician certification programme.[19]

Recognition

Rau has been recognised within professional paintball for his consistency, defensive play and lengthy competitive career.

Field One Paintball credits him with more than 50 professional tournament victories, while a November 2022 interview published by Paintball Nerd described him as having achieved more than 60 first-place finishes with Dynasty.[1][20]

In 2021, Iconic Paintball included Rau in its published list of 50 notable players in paintball history, highlighting his contributions to Dynasty and his equipment development work.[11]

Selected achievements

Year	Tournament	Result	Team
2000	Spyder Cup	1st, amateur 5-man	KAPP Factory
2021	NXL Windy City Major	1st, professional division	San Diego Dynasty
2022	NXL World Cup	1st, professional division	San Diego Dynasty
2023	NXL World Cup	1st, professional division	San Diego Dynasty

This table lists selected documented achievements rather than a complete tournament record.

References

External links