February 2007
www.adventuresportscenter.com

Dear Adventurer,
As the snow settles, the ASCI grounds look more like a surreal alpine terrain than home of
the world-class whitewater course. A wide cornice grows outside one office window, and a two
foot thick icicle stand like a pillar in the corner of the courtyard. The deep snow also means
prime skiing and snowboarding and our staff has been honing their 'riding' skills on the
varied slopes of the WISP, our next door neighbor. The program staff even escaped to
Backbone Ski Farm in late January, getting back to basics with cross country skiing at one of
the country's best stories of a multi-seasonal business. Backbone grooms trails and rents
skis when the snow falls, and then farms and locally sells some of the country's best organic
vegetables. While there are no plans for a garden lining the whitewater course, the
Backbone model is an inspiration.

Welcome to Joe Schroyer
A much anticipated addition to the ASCI team, Joe Schroyer of Oakland, MD has been hired
as our Maintenance Supervisor. Joe has unflinchingly accepted a monumental task, including
upkeep and operation of proprietary technology ranging from the giant hydraulic pumps to
the pneumatic waveshapers, from our operations building to the 550 acres of Fork Run and
everything 'technical' in between. Fortunately, Joe has the background, smarts and good
humor to tackle the job. He also has rafting experience on the Upper Yough, is a Garrett
County native, and is an avid hunter who knows the wild lands of Western Maryland as well
as anyone.

U.S. Olympic Coach, Silvan Poberaj, visits ASCI
A longtime friend of many ASCI staff members and the current head coach of our Olympic
Team, Silvan Poberaj visited the mountain in January. The main purpose of his visit was to
consult on the design and the construction of our slalom gate system. In between trips to
Brazil (for the Pre-World Championships) and China (in preparation for the 2008 Olympic
Games), Silvan will be working with our staff to implement a state-of-the-art slalom gate
system on the course. The system should be completed in time for limited training on the
course later this spring.

Host delegation for the World Rafting Championships in Korea tours ASCI
An increasingly common inquiry of ASCI is how can someone else build a recirculating
whitewater course and develop an adventure sports center of their own. OF note was a visit
by three South Koreans who are organizing the 2007 World Rafting Championships. They
regaled us with stories of a region not much unlike Western Maryland; nestled just under 3
hours from Seoul (the second largest metropolitan area in the World), the Yeongwol region
has mountains much like the Alleghenies, a similar climate, and a recent history of transition
from coal mining economy to that of recreation and tourism. We shared the ASCI story, and
discussed some collaborations and exchanged that will hopefully bring Korean outdoor
professionals to the ASCI experience, and vice-versa.

Senator Ben Cardin Visits ASCI
While ASCI has worked closely with Maryland politicians in its development over the past 20
years, the visit by Senator Cardin, just elected this Fall, represents yet another contact point
between ASCI and congress. As we move into our first season, ASCI hopes to draw more
attention to its unique role as a world class destination that also bolsters a rural economy
built increasingly on recreation tourism dollars.

ASCI Staff Meets the Governor
At the 2007 PACE (Positive Attitudes Changes Everything) Conference in Annapolis, hosted
by Maryland's mountain counties (Allegheny and Garrett), ASCI staff entertained the newly
elected Governor, Martin O'Maley, in a short history of the project, and described the
whitewater course with the aid of a scaled model created by students at Frostburg State
University. Governor O'Maley, the recent Mayor of Baltimore, showed keen interest in getting
on the course, and we look forward to a summertime visit from him and his family.

Retail to Open Soon
The ASCI Pro Shop is being stocked and will ready to open for ASCI's grand opening this
spring. The Pro Shop is located in front of ASCI's beautiful lodge and will be designed to
make you feel at home while shopping. The Pro Shop will carry whitewater gear, climbing
equipment, and small items to remember you adventure at ASCi. Make sure to check it out
when you visit this Spring/Summer.

Opening Day
Garrett County's most exciting natural phenomenon is its wild weather. The rain is a plus to
all the whitewater enthusiasts, and the snow is the deliverance of winter for skiers, riders and
ice fisherman. However, it also puts a crimp on the final construction of our facility. While the
bizarre warm spell meant that we could extend some of our construction in to December, it
now means we will not be able to resume testing and final construction till the 2 feet of snow
thaws. We are still taking reservation for the spring, though, and will open fully on or just
after Memorial Day weekend. It also means while our Fork Run Recreation Area is already
open for business, you will have to wait for the ice to melt before climbing the ledges or
biking its trails. In the meantime, our doors are open Monday through Friday all winter, and
we are always available for a tour.

Other News
ASCi will break ground on construction of a boat conveyor in March. This will bring guests
and athletes from the lower pond to the entrance rapid, and represents the final stage of
capital construction before fully opening in early June...ASCI has begun advertising for guide
positions starting in May. Check the website for details...ASCi will be hosting three major
competitive events in 2007: the ASCI Showdown and Invitational, a professional
bouldering and freestyle kayak competition on June 30th. ASCI will also be hosting the 2007
Whitewater Parks Conference on April 18th - 20th, and the forth annual Whitewater
Symposium on October 19th - 21st (this is the top gathering of whitewater instruction, safety
and business professionals in the U.S.)...ASCI is now taking reservations for guided rafting
and rock climbing, and is ready to create special 'Group Adventures' that use ASCI's wide
range of outdoor venues and in-house expertise. Finally, ASCI will be fielding three
Adventures in the Americas over the next winter. This includes whitewater tours in Costa
Rica and Chile, and a climbing trip in Mexico. Stay tuned for more details on these
exclusive trips.

In the weeks and months ahead ASCI will be busy taking reservations, planning our various
events, and in general getting ready for the wild ride that will start later this spring. Please
join us for that ride, and we hope to see any number of you on top of the mountains in the
year to come.

Sincerely,
ASCI Staff
The Guide #3 Newsletter
Adventure Sports Center at Deep Creek Lake
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