Our coverage of the IWA Outdoor Classics 2023 on site started yesterday after we finally get to fly in to Nuremberg. We were greeted with a transport strike with the tram, underground and bus network paralyzed as the unions went on strike. Fortunately, the organizers have readied shuttle buses for visitors at the airport and the main train station. Also, the taxis are available as well so no problem going to the hotel to drop off our things and then off to Nuremberg Messe to start our day covering the event.

The Airsoft section of the massive trade fair is located inside Hall 5 which, if looking at the map, is smack in the middle of the venue. The first thing we did is to reconnoiter around to check out what’s on display and do some initial meet and greet to our friends in the industry and community who we have not seen in three years as well as find new faces.

We dropped off some stuff at the RWA/RedWolf Airsoft booth where we get to talk to Paul Chu, the RWA top man and Max Lai, who is very familiar face to many who follow their official channel. Right across them is the iWholesales and touched base with Tim Wyborn.

As we made our way around, there are shooting ranges for those who want to try airsoft, be they unfamiliar with it as well as those who hardened veterans of airsoft battles. These are managed by Gunfire and RedWolf Airsoft so if you are in the area, visit the “Airsoft Xperience.”

Since you always look forward to videos we get from the IWA Outdoor Classics, we made confirmations of our interview/video appointments with King Arms, Nuprol, G&G, Modify-Tech, Gunfire, RWA, VFC, and more. And the first video capture we did was with Wolverine Airsoft with Rich Lort himself presenting. We also get to talk to Evike group where Matt, George and Evike Chang were going around checking things out.

We made our way also to Hall 7/7A, which is the next most popular hall for airsofters as this is where the big firearms brands such as Heckler & Koch, Ruger, Steyr, B&T, etc. are found. In no time we found ourselves running out of time as the venue was about to close. So off we want back to our hotel with the Mike Von Bulow of Border Wars who kindly drove us there given the transport strike.

Our day was not over yet as a tradition of the airsoft community happened next --- MEALSIM IWA 2023. Thomas Mikkelsen, who manages the group on Facebook managed to have around 100 people to share burgers and beer at Ruf’s burgers in the city centre. It was fun as we get to see more familiar faces.

To top the day off, it was at our usual watering hole, Finnegan’s. We managed to down a pint or two but we were already knackered, so back to our hotel by 1100H to rest and prepare for the 3rd day where we expect a big influx of trade visitors.

See more photos at our Facebook Page.