organized by: Dani Lacasse & Kyle Yazinka
Contributions by various noted authors
Nick "Raynor " Quadrini
Pressure Point. An event like no other, one that still stands clearly in my mind after so many years. It was incredibly difficult and astonishingly fun, one of those moments in your life where you know you're experiencing something special the whole time. I ran, jumped, held over 30 grapes in my mouth, fell in love with a rock, swam, and battled against sleep until my body reached its limit. But through every labored step, I was having fun. There's a special thing that happens when you're struggling, surrounded by your teammates and facing challenge after challenge: you face it an overcome it together. I still have the photograph of my team, smiling with our painted green rock and our precious bananas, sitting on my desk. If you're considering going, you should know that it will be difficult. You will be tired, sweaty, and pushed to your mental and physical limits. But it will be one of the most fun and satisfying events that you ever experience, and after you've had a long sleep you'll remember it for the rest of your life.
James "Tao" Murphy
How Pressure point 3 changed my life. (not an exaggeration).
Before PP3 I drank 2-3 liters of Diet coke a day. Running up to the event, I cut back, and back, and for a few days had none. In my suv was a cooler with some that I stared at for several minutes at the end of the event. But after accomplishing the event, I decided I did have the strength to quit for good. I have not had one since.
Some bits I really enjoyed, going for captain; failing, but still eating a century egg (with cheese). Building a bond with my team, the Red Jaguars. Fighting the first fight, and the last. Doing more pushups than kids half my age. Bringing a 6”6’ to a single short fight. I lugged that thing around but got to use it when it counted. (actually, I did not plan on using it for the final fights, but my 5’ broke).
Because I brought a backpack (with a stool for the frame) I had a change of clothes. I had tissues, I had rope, and a bunch of other useful stuff. Now I have fair skin and burn easily. I brough full sleeve shirts. One white set for the day, one dark for the night. I also had changes of, other items of clothing. Getting out the water at 8am? And being able to put on fresh underwear was amazing.
My advice, don’t try to cheat, don’t try to sneak stuff in. That is not the game. Also, try your best. Don’t quit. Even if you can’t run, walk, if you can’t do 10 pushups do 8, be prepared to do a lot of different things. Be prepared to fail at some of them.
Paul "Grindin" Tilton
There's something about running a mile to the beach at 5am after fighting, exercising, and puzzling all night that makes you go “What the hell did I sign up for? Why am I here?” Because in that exact moment, it boggles the mind. And then you look around you at the teammates who have stood by you at every challenge, the competition who forced you to dig deep to find more energy. All people who signed up to push themselves, the same as you.
I've been in plenty of “battles” in the Realms, but Pressure Point was an actual trial. Everyone who participates in Pressure Point is saying “I am no vacationer, I am ready to show what I am made of.” From what little I have heard about this iteration: your mettle will be tested, and you may think about quitting… but you won't, because your teammates and your competitors need you.
Cody "Kirk" Garcia
The weekend was a bit of a haze but here is what I remember. The first day was a ton of fun with all the team competitions and challenges. It felt a lot like a field day from when we were younger. Tug of war, team eating challenge, balance challenge, races, exercise challenges, ECT. The. Night hit and this is where I stop remembering much until the end of the night part where you had to stay awake while sitting in a room with everyone else and you were not allowed to talk. Fall asleep or make noise and you were docked points. Dawn hits and Trent forces us all to jog some distance down a road to the lake. It was exhausting being sleep deprived. The lake activities were a blast. Que the end of the event with the award ceremony. Most of it still feels like a fever dream but it was an amazing time and I still have the team pic from the event on my wall.
