“We better be early to find a good area to set up camp,” said Masterchief as he spoke on the phone a day before we go off to the Ground Zero National Airsoft Event 2011. “The weather report for Friday is not good, and we better be there to set up quick before it rains.” Fair enough, with almost 1700 players booked for the event, we expect cars and trucks to start muddying up the roads leading toward Ground Zero Woodland.

It's our fourth year to attend the Ground Zero Weekender, and faithfully reporting about this event. We have seen it grow and grow as every year it breaks another record of being the most attended airsoft event in the United Kingdom, if not in Europe. It's always a weekend that's often blocked-off by many airsoft players as it's an event that in my whole airsoft life offers something really unique.

Masterchief and Carl picked me up at home, loading their small car to the maximum it can bear. It was still around 0830H in the morning before we left my place and immediately got caught in heavy rains and traffic near Heathrow Airport. Just around 20 minutes, we broke through the area, and the sun came through as the rain subsided along M25 going to M3 to our relief. It was still over an hour's ride to Ringwood, Hampshire, Southeast England.

Except for that heavy traffic near Heathrow, the road was relatively light and clear on the road to Ringwood, which surprised us as we're usually bunched up with lots of cars heading south to make the most of the last long weekend in the UK. We arrived at Ground Zero in good time, though we have seen the marks made by the rains from the previous day, the paths were muddied alright. We managed to get through and find where Joe and Wayne, Masterchief's skirmish friends from Essex, set up their tents. They were at a good place deep inside the camp area, where we always prefer to be.

We were able to pitch our tent in the nick of time, as it started to rain hard again and we huddled inside the shelter we also set up near the tent. We just prepared our cameras and waited for the rain to stop. After almost like an eternity of rain, it finally stopped and we decided to make for the main grounds to get register, get our tags and mission packs. Cars were stopped from entering the camp areas as most are getting bogged down and the organisers had to fill up the muddied spots to make them passable again. Most players have already set up camp, but mood was a little bit dampened by the wet weather, unlike the previous year's where by late afternoon, the whole camp would be alive with blaring music, players dry firing to check their guns, and costumed people running amok.

The sky was still bright when we got to the registration area, as The “H”,  the Ground Zero boss came out to meet us to have some short chit-chat. However, the skies opened up and another heavy downpour happened cutting our short chit-chat even shorter. We had to take cover from the rain as we have our video and camera equipment with us, and having them wet and go dead would surely ruin our whole weekend big time. Players braved the the rain to register and pay for whatever is remaining obligations they have in registering and the mood was jolly at the registration area --- people were wonderful and helpful as usual, not even dampened at all by the wet weather and darkened skies.

The rain lightened a bit and rather than be stuck at the registration area, we ran for the main tent where you can find the Zero One shop, bar, and the burger van. It also serves as the social area where players from all over mingle. The armoured personnel carrier (APC), first seen last year, is again parked at the same area. We checked the Airsoft Action Magazine, a new airsoft print magazine that made its launch on this event, with the Ground Zero Weekender being its cover issue, obviously.  The car boot sale, where players are allowed to ply their wares, such as used equipment, was ongoing. However, the rain just made it difficult for them to sell, as they do not have proper stalls unlike other sponsors and exhibitors. Nevertheless, there were some bargains that can be had at the car boot sale, with Joe happy with his Tokyo Marui Uzi SMG purchase.

The Zero One Airsoft Shop inside the big tent was muddy, as in really muddy as the water went in and many players streaming in and out to buy what they want in preparation for tomorrow's game. I hesitated at first, but then went in my video camera, and indeed the queue to the till have made the mud almost ankle deep in some areas. The shop was very much well stocked, and I found a bag that I've been looking for but decided to put off the purchase as the line to checking out was long and I had to do some work. I put the purchase plan at the back of my mind, with the intention of getting it tomorrow as most players will be out in the field playing.

Masterchief and I had a video plan for Friday, interviewing players what they think about the event. The weather just ruined our plan as there was no proper place to set up for the interview. It would have been nice to include this in our after action video. So this means that this plan will have to be put off for another year. We took photos of people milling around the main grounds: people having their fill of beer, or lining up the burger van to get a hot meal, or checking out their purchases.

It was already past 1800H when the weather was a bit better and more people were at the main grounds. We decided to get some beer and do some catching up with friends we met last year. Wanda and Daniel of the Swiss Invaders at our table and about to pick up the rest of the Swiss Invaders from train station in Bournemouth as they had to fly out from Switzerland late afternoon. Joe and Wayne were with us too, so after a couple of rounds, time flew fast and before we knew it, it was already 2100H.  We decided to get back to the camp early and resume discussions for the next day there.

As we walked back to our tents, the camp area was now alive with people having barbecue, sharing beer, and generally walking around looking for friends that they've met in previous years of Ground Zero Weekender.  At our tent, we prepared some of our gear for tomorrow and talked for another hour. By 2200H, we all realised that as much as the day was laid back, some tiredness set in, and decided to call it a night as it's going to be a long day tomorrow.

We wondered if we'll get some good night's sleep with the excitement of tomorrow's games. Fortunately, the beer in our system helped and it was rather easy for us to go into slumber. For Masterchief and I, we started our competition early --- who snored the most to keep Carl awake.

Read Day 2 of Ground Zero NAE 2011 Report.

Read Day 3 of Ground Zero NAE 2011 Report.

(Ground Zero NAE 2011 Day 1 Photos are available at our Facebook Page)