Category: adventure sports center

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Operations and management of the Adventure Sports Center International will be addressed by the Garrett County Board of Commissioners next week when a press conference is held Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the commission’s public meeting room.

The commissioners and Wendy Yoder, director of the county’s department of financial services, and Scott Weeks, assistant director, held a discussion about ASCI on Monday and then went into executive session to discuss economic development and financial and personnel matters pertaining to the sports center.

The commissioners previously discussed ASCI’s $3 million debt obligation at a February meeting. In January, the sports center’s board of directors proposed to convey all of the center’s facilities, assets and operations to the county. The offer was contingent upon the county assuming ASCI’s liabilities, according to a previous statement released by the commissioners.

During the February meeting, the commissioners made it clear that they would not consider the conveyance if the debt obligations remain.

Also at Monday’s administrative meeting, the commissioners:

• Approved an appropriation of $500 to the town of Kitzmiller for the 2012 Annual Homecoming Festival.

• Discussed the funding of an events coordinator. The commissioners had previously approved in August 2011 the funding of $20,000 to serve as a cost share with the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners and members of the chamber agreed to place the employment of an independent contractor on hold with the final decision to be made as part of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.

• Reappointed Donald Stemple to the Garrett County Civil Service Commission.

During the public meeting, the commissioners:

• Approved a bid award to Winters General Contractor Inc. for $46,950 for an airport parking area expansion.

• Provided an update on legislative matters relative to the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

• Heard an update from Richard MacLennan, president of Garrett College, on the Garrett County Scholarship Program.

• Executed a proclamation celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouts in the United States.

• Recognized Austin Shaffer of Southern Garrett High School as the 2012 State Wrestling Champion.

The next public meeting will be held April 3 at 9 a.m.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

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Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — Despite dealing with multiple challenges like construction cost overruns, a faltering economy and the Wisp Resort filing for bankruptcy in October, the Adventure Sports Center International remains a focal point in promoting tourism, according to Matt Taylor, executive director of ASCI.

Garrett County commissioners made a public statement Tuesday that they met in executive session to discuss legal, financial and personnel implications of the $3 million debt obligations ASCI incurred because of unanticipated construction costs.

“ASCI has become the nexus it was intended to be, despite the aforementioned challenges,” said Taylor in an email to the Times-News. “The bottom line is that the facility was never intended to operate with debt, and Tuesday’s statements by the commissioners mark an important step in a long process to restructure and eliminate that debt so that ASCI can continue its core missions of promoting adventure tourism and healthy, active outdoor lifestyles.”

The debt was incurred during cost overruns in construction of the actual whitewater course and pond, according to Taylor. ASCI broke ground on the whitewater facility in 2004 and opened in the spring of 2007.

“The ASCI whitewater course is a one-of-a-kind facility and a combination of unique building challenges and high cost of materials. Most of the facility was built in the years following Hurricane Katrina, which greatly inflated certain material and transportation costs (that) led to the overruns,” said Taylor.

ASCI is a nonprofit entity and not under the authority of the board of county commissioners, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator. The financial institutions involved with the debt collection are Susquehanna Bank and First United Bank & Trust.

Adventure Sports Chairman Duane Yoder said the group may consider transferring ownership to Garrett County or Garrett College.

The venture has received $4.1 million from the state, $2.9 million in federal funds, $1.3 million from Garrett County and $2 million from the sales of land donated by DC Development LLC, owner of the Wisp at Deep Creek Mountain Resort.

“ASCI has carried this debt from its opening in 2007 and we have operated for five successful seasons and intend to open in 2012 for our best season yet,” said Taylor.

The debt will not affect operations or the 2014 World Championship Canoe and Kayak Slalom Races, according to Taylor.

“The world championship is a real successful event for us. All along it has been part of our business plan to get corporate sponsors for this event, and this debt makes it hard to have corporate sponsors,” said Taylor.

“We have been in negotiation with the banks for years, and ASCI’s default is part of a structured process to eliminate the debt and allow us to focus on preparation and promotion for Deep Creek 2014. ASCI continues to work with state, local and banking leaders to find a long-term solution.”

In addition to successfully guiding more than 55,000 people down the whitewater course, welcoming more than 200,000 visitors, and hosting eight national and international competitions, ASCI has also developed widely recognized environmental education programs with Garrett County public schools, according to Taylor.

The commissioners will compile their positions and comments on this situation and plan to provide a more detailed review during their Feb. 7 public session, according to Pagenhardt.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Sunday, August 21, 2011

By Craig Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Even in a sport like kayaking, where every course has its own distinct features and challenges, the ASCI complex in Deep Creek Lake, Md., is considered truly unique among the greater kayaking community.

Situated in mountainous western Maryland, the whitewater course at ASCI maintains the distinction of being the world’s only mountaintop whitewater course.

“There is nothing in the United States or even the world that is like this,” said ASCI business manager Sandy Bello.

ASCI, a not-for-profit organization formed to promote adventure tourism and healthy outdoor lifestyles, opened the whitewater course in 2007 and has taken over 45,000 people rafting and kayaking in that time.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11233/1168601-140.stm#ixzz1VmXt74PM

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Jun. 9, 2011

The Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI) was recently awarded a grant of $30,000 from the Naylor Foundation to support its adventure and environmental education programs with Garrett County public schools. The grant will supplement program and administration costs, and furthers a growing effort to reconnect local children with the outdoors.

Through one of these programs, Southern Middle School recently completed several rafting trips on the ASCI mountaintop whitewater course, which is located at the top of Wisp Resort. Some 160 sixth graders, teachers, and parents participated. For many of the students it was an introductory experience with whitewater rafting. Assisted by a guide, students navigated sections of the course with names like the “Dark Destroyer” and “Pinball Alley,” where they learned to paddle through drops and jump the raft off rocks.

While rafting, students also had the opportunity to meet with U.S. veterans who were visiting ASCI as part of the All-American Whitewater Festival. The veterans, who are members of Team River Runner, a Wounded Warrior organization, spoke to the middle school students about the lifelong thrill and therapeutic power associated with whitewater.

Through another of the ASCI sponsored programs, Southern Middle School seventh graders climbed and rappelled the rocks at the Fork Run Recreation Area. A 550-acre preserve, Fork Run is managed by ASCI and open to the general public. During their adventure, students ascended and descended the same cliffs that world famous climbers Lynn Hill, Will Gadd, and Hans Florine have recently visited.

At the event, students were instructed on how to “boulder” while climbing, and also on walking a “slackline,” which is a modified tightrope set very low to the ground.

Also through ASCI, local eighth graders undertook adventures in various locations. These consisted of rafting, biking, and hiking excursions at Ohiopyle State Park and kayaking and hiking trips in the Oakland area.

The eighth grade program is called “Discovery,” a spokesperson stated, because students are allowed to choose their own adventure and “discover for themselves the challenge and thrill of a particular adventure sport.”

After the Northern Middle School sixth grade group rafts at the mountaintop whitewater course this month, the total number of participants from Garrett County’s middle schools will total over 900 students. The trip will conclude the school’s first year in an ASCI program.

Read more here.

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