250 Adventure Sports Way McHenry, MD 21541 Phone: 301-387-3250 www.adventuresportscenter.com www.deepcreek2014.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Suzanne Nicolas Office: 301.387.3250 Cell: 301-501-0046 [email protected]

A Combined Slalom Event Will Bring Double the Talent to ASCI

McHenry, MD. The Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI) will once again draw the world’s best paddlers to western Maryland to compete at the unique mountain-top course. The Deep Creek Open and US National & Championships will be combined over September 8th, and 9th, 2012 to create the ultimate event of slalom whitewater competition. A challenging course will be set on the world’s only mountain-top self- contained channel that draws the senior international teams, including many of the competitors from the London Olympics, as well as the entire U.S. Olympic Team and the current U.S. National and Junior Teams. Competitors for both competitions will traverse the same course set-up but will be separated for judging. U.S. paddlers will have the opportunity to place in both the Deep Creek Open and the Nationals.

“Combining both these events is sure to create an exceptional pool of talent for the competition,” said Joe Jacobi, Chief Executive Officer of USA Canoe Kayak and Olympic Gold Medalist in the sport. “ASCI’s facilities will provide both a challenging race environment for competitors as well as a great experience for spectators. It is a critical opportunity for our athletes to compete on the channel that will be used for the ICF World Championships in 2014. ”

“I am really looking forward to returning to ASCI,” said Casey Eichfeld, a 2008 and 2012 Olympian and former ASCI guide and instructor. “It is going to be a good race and great to see everyone again! Plus it will nice to have the home court advantage in competing against the international paddlers who will be here.”

The competition will welcome all spectators for a close up look at the demanding and technical sport of whitewater slalom. The well groomed riverside, pedestrian pathways and bridge overlooking the top of the course provide the perfect environment to watch topnotch whitewater racing with family and friends. is a competitive sport in which either individuals or teams of two navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging gates in the fastest time possible. Canoers kneel in their boats and use a single blade while kayakers sit and use a double bladed paddle. It is one of the two and disciplines at the Summer Olympics, with the other being (which is held on flatwater). The color of the gates indicates which direction they must be navigated, upstream or downstream. Time penalties are added for touching gates or failing to navigate gates correctly.

ASCI has successfully hosted many high caliber whitewater races from the U.S. Rafting Nationals in 2009 to the ACA’s Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & the North American Canoe Kayak Championships in 2010. ASCI also will have the honor of hosting the esteemed Federation’s (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships in 2014.

“ASCI is honored to have been selected to host Worlds in 2014,” said Suzanne Nicolas, the Deep Creek 2014 Events Coordinator. “Hosting such a large scale event will give ASCI the opportunity to show the world all that ASCI and Garrett County has to offer.” This is only the second time in history that the World’s have been held in the U.S. The first time was in 1989, also in Garrett County on the Savage River.

ASCI is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that operates both a 15 acre site on top of Marsh Mountain, home to ASCI’s headquarters and the whitewater course, and a 550 acre nature preserve called Fork Run, home to many climbing routes on natural faces and over 10 miles of mountain bike trails. ASCI’s core programs include guided rafting adventures down the whitewater course, guided climbing trips at Fork Run rocks, and instructional courses in kayaking, river boarding, and climbing. ASCI also offers winter programming that includes cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.

To learn more about the competitions please contact Suzanne Nicolas at 301-387-3250 or at [email protected] . Those interested in serving a crucial role as a volunteer for the event can visit www.adventuresportscenter.com to complete a volunteer form.