An invitation that cannot be refused
When I got the invite, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Quite frankly, I was surprised. I was working at Intel Extreme Masters Katowice at the time, so my head was absorbed in Counter-Strike from the top shelf. After a quick reflection, however, I found that it is an invitation from the series of those who do not refuse. After returning from Katowice, I only spent a few days at home, then I made another trip. This time my destination turned out to be Białka Tatrzańska. A pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the city. The more I love the mountains, the more they have their own magical atmosphere, which always has a positive effect on my psyche.
After a few hours on the road, quick shopping, a leisurely visit and rest at the hotel. Positive emotions were bubbling inside me, after all Pasha is a legend of Polish and world esports. It’s not every day that you meet your idols. I have trouble falling asleep, but I finally managed to fall into the arms of Morpheus. The morning came faster than expected. Quick coffee, breakfast and you can go to work. The backpack ends with a camera, tripod, microphones… and quite a few energy drinks – I couldn’t run out of caffeine that day. Especially since, if everything was to go according to the agreed plan, I had to finish the job late at night. At the Grand Stasinda Recreation and Business Center – the location of the PGC – I checked in around nine in the morning. Just as I arrived the guys were coming back from the morning swim. At that time, I met Tomek – one of the organizers, with whom I had settled all the details. Tomek turned out to be a longtime friend of Jarek, who was involved in preparing the whole project. He showed me around the whole establishment and gave me all the feedback. After a quick introduction, it was time to get down to business. Unfortunately, it was not possible to record the activity on the ground, because the weather was unfavorable that day. Poor visibility, strong wind, fog and heavy sleet. So we had to work a bit from the hotel.
First impression
I began my work with a thorough examination of the game area. I called it “the player’s cave” because it was perfect for the purposes of the game. A spacious room filled with computers, upon entering it we welcomed in the dark, lit by multicolored LEDs and neon lights. As it has long been known, the more lights, the higher the player’s skills. Dozens of high-end computers, desks and gaming chairs. I have to admit it was really impressive.
Then I decided to get to know the first participants of the PGC. I warned them that I would be hanging around with a camera all day watching what they were doing. The guys made me feel very welcome, the esports vibe that connected us was immediately visible. Since it was in the morning, the attendance was not too high. Even if it didn’t bother anyone. As the old saying goes – “he barely opened his eyes and already at the computer”. Well, yes, because campers have been waiting for Counter-Strike skirmishes. First wingers, DMs or aimmaps. Some people honed their skills that morning. However, CS isn’t the only game I’ve seen – I’ve noticed several other titles on some people’s screens as well. In the meantime, I also spoke to the administrators who told me what the whole project looked like from a technical point of view. Over time, more and more participants appeared on the stands.
Then I decided to change the environment a bit. Martial arts classes were approaching. I’m not going to lie, I waited a bit. I myself am a big fan of this activity, especially since I have been practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for many years. I wanted to see what it looked like at an esports event. Then I met Mansur – a coach from WCA who came to help the pasha before the High League fight. By the way, he agreed to lead classes for campers. Maybe the level wasn’t too high, but that wasn’t the point. The idea was to combine the ideas of traditional sport and play, which are very important values for Jarek. Above all, in the foreground, I could see the joy. Everyone was very relaxed, enjoying the moment. And that was what mattered most. And who knows, maybe inspired by PGC, one of the campers will start their adventure with combat sports in the future?
After class, I finally had the opportunity to meet the main star of the whole event – Jarosław “pashaBiceps” Jarząbkowski. Or rather the main chair of the event, because I think Jarek would be against calling him a star. Or at least nowadays, where such a term can have a pejorative connotation. It turned out that I quickly found a common language with him. I had the opportunity to watch his preparation before the HL. What surprised me was Pasha’s figure. Before, he just looked like a burly, loaded dude. And in front of me was a withered and cut guy. All of this, of course, was due to the weight limit in the upcoming fight. Jarek made a very positive first impression on me. An organized guy with clear goals. We agreed to talk in the evening, and in the meantime I understood interview with Mansour. It was a nice change – at an esports event to talk a bit about another passion, which is combat sports.
CEO of PGC
In the evening came the most important moment of my trip – the interview with pasha. The conversation went very well from the start. We covered a lot of interesting topics – starting with the idea of PGC, through freak combat, ending with Emeritos Banditos. In fact, if it weren’t for other tasks, this conversation could have lasted over an hour. Jarek is above all a very knowledgeable and experienced interlocutor. I did not even think to interrupt him for a moment – he skillfully told and combined many threads. What I can say for sure about him is that Pasha is a very smart guy who knows what he wants out of life. And above all, given the environment in which he will sometimes evolve, he is a damn good person. During this career, he did not get lost in any environment. Its “normality” stands out from today’s freaks and represents very good values. Our off-camera conversation was also an important part of the journey for me. You finally meet your idol – there’s still that kid in me who remembers watching Virtus and their exploits. Anyway, thanks to our passion for martial arts, we had many common topics to explore. While waiting, I met the rest of the Emeritos Bandtios, who started broadcasting in the evening.
Experienced campers and banditos
The evening hours are the busiest time in the games room. When everyone was busy playing and fitting in together, I decided to enjoy that moment a bit. Met many interesting campers, many of whom told me why they were here. Each of them had a separate story, but they all shared a love for CS. Many people surprised me, including Oliver, who turned out to be an AVEZ academy player and whom I cordially greet from this place. The hours passed and I integrated into the participants.
Concerning EB, I especially wanted to interview PAGO. Maybe because he’s my favorite streamer that I’ve followed for many years. Well, as befits a PAGO, that was pretty tough to catch up on. It only happened at 1am! You can see the result of our conversation here. Then I talked to Mateusz about many other topics. It was a really amazing feeling talking to your favorite streamer, getting to know each other, and taking a pawn. PAGO, remember – grenades don’t burn and bring you down! After all this, the participants slowly escaped to sleep, so I had to do the same. I said goodbye to everyone then went to the hotel. On the way home, I thought what fantastic memories will stay with me forever. I arrived at the hotel around 3 am.
Summary
Time for a summary. PGC 18+ was the first edition of the adult event. What were my feelings? Well, definitely positive. The camp perfectly combines esports, sports and joint integration. The whole organization is supervised by many people who take care of every detail. From this place, a big thank you to Tomek, with whom I arranged all the details of the operation – see you soon! Going back to the event, the biggest thing I saw was the happy attendees. Everyone was kind and helpful to each other, everyone had a great time. Different people, from different backgrounds, with a common passion for esports. They had plenty of other attractions to choose from, like going to the mountains, skiing, swimming, or martial arts lessons. Something beautiful. Great initiative, hats off.
And in the end, so that it was not so colorful, the only downside of the whole trip. Price. I must admit that this is not an event that everyone can afford. Especially with the current market turmoil. You had to pay nearly four thousand zlotys for seven days of PGC. Expensive, especially since at this price one will find exclusive holidays abroad. On the other hand, what is cheap these days?
