Sadly we had to say goodbye to coach Tonio and Vatic creator Palpal on Day 3 as they headed back home for work. We thank them for putting up with management's barely passable attempts at speaking French! 🤪

Day 4: Chill & Practice Day

The squad kept things low-key: more practice, strategic conversations, and a bit of well-earned rest. Kingsman made sure the team stayed focused, while Simon discovered what he thought was his first French croissant. Spoiler: it wasn’t. But it did have chocolate, so we let it slide.

“Mon premier croissant français. Mmmmm.” – Simon (who learned a moment later that it was indeed not a croissant at all)

This was the day we reset. We reviewed our plays, recharged, and reconnected. The living room became a casual strategy den—equal parts memes and metrics.

Eric, Matt, KingsMan, Natchoa, TryHard | Image by Jonathan Castro

Day 5: Media Day Madness

Cameras. Poses. Lights. Chaos. It was time to capture content—and the team did not disappoint. Whether it was Kingsman's best attempt at Zoolander’s Blue Steel or TryHard’s devastatingly good angles, everyone brought their A-game to the shoot.

The Airbnb transformed into a production studio. There were light tests, outfit swaps, and pose debates. Between takes, there were games of pétanque (though in North America I think we'd call it bocce ball) and even more pizza.

Tryhard, Imraan, Tonio, KingMan, Palpal | Image by Jonathan Castro 

Day 6: Versailles, Louvre, Catacombs & Clubbing

Small groups fanned out across the city to make the most of a free day: some visited the palace at Versailles, while others explored the Louvre. We regrouped at the Paris catacombs, where 7 million skeletons set the mood for a very different kind of team bonding.

Simon | Image by Jonathan Castro

Imraan took the opportunity to scare half the team with ghost stories.

“I'm going to take you in there and I'm going to break you.” – Imraan (in full horror movie mode, next to the skeleton corridor)

Imraan | Image by Jonathan Castro

After dinner together, the squad hit a club near the Arc de Triomphe—because what’s a bootcamp without a little nightlife? Don’t worry team, there are no photos. Probably.

Day 7: Creative Showmatch vs Millésime MG

We brought vibes. Millésime MG brought energy. The creative showmatch was one of the most fun moments of the week—but the real drama happened before it started.

Simon and Imraan went off the grid for nearly four hours. We called. We texted. We panicked.

Eventually, we sent out search parties (on foot and by car—shoutout to Croco for driving half of Argenteuil). They turned up just in time to compete. Classic.

The match itself? Fire. The laughs? Loud. The content? Masterclass.

Eric | Image by Jonathan Castro

Days 8–9: Stage 3 Qualifiers

Back to business. The matches were tough, the pressure was high, and the team rose to the challenge. Growth doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard, but in Paris, it showed up in every interaction—on comms, in strategy, and in trust.

Even when a match didn’t go our way, the vibe stayed strong. We knew this was part of the journey. The team debriefs turned into late-night motivation sessions. The wins were celebrated. The losses were analyzed—then let go.

Natchoa & Simon | Image by Jonathan Castro

Day 10: Departure Day

Suitcases packed. Phones full of footage. Legs sore from all the walking, attacking, and dancing. Every goodbye was tougher than expected. We arrived in Paris as a team. We left as friends.

There were fist bumps, hugs, and final photos. Plans were already being made for the next bootcamp. The only thing heavier than our checked bags was the gratitude we felt leaving this trip behind.

Bootcamp wasn’t just about gameplay. It was about chemistry. About building trust. About turning teammates into lifelong connections. This is the kind of energy we’ll carry forward—for every match, and every future trip.