Published: February 23, 2008 10:31 pm         

Two-time whitewater Olympian takes reins at Adventure Sports Center International

MCHENRY — Matt Taylor has been appointed executive director of Adventure Sports Center International and will be responsible for the long-term growth and management of the facility.

“We are very excited to have Matt take the reigns of the Adventure Sports Center International,” said Jim Hinebaugh, president of ASCI’s board of directors. “As a two-time whitewater Olym-pian, Matt understands how to maximize ASCI’s appeal for world-class athletes while making it a place where anyone can take their first steps into the world of paddling and adventure sports.”

Taylor took over the helm of the Adventure Sports Center this month when previous Executive Director Brian Trusty left to return to Texas, where his family lives, and take a job with a consulting firm that has worked with ASCI in the past.

A graduate of Yale University, Taylor is a whitewater World Cup medalist and a five-time whitewater national champion who represented the United States in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, competing in the two-person whitewater slalom canoe event. After returning from the ’04 games in Athens, Greece, Taylor and Olympic teammate Scott Parsons participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the center.

Taylor was hired as ASCI’s director of operations in 2006, and since then, he has supervised programming, staffing and day-to-day operations on the facility’s state-of-the-art recirculating whitewater course.

“I’m truly honored to be chosen as ASCI’s new executive director,” Taylor said. “ASCI’s opening season was a tremendous success and I know that our team has the right combination of talent and enthusiasm to carry the momentum into 2008 and beyond.”

Located near Deep Creek Lake, ASCI opened to the public in May and hosted more than 12,000 rafting customers during its first year. The facility’s opening season included a full schedule of high-profile competitions drawing top paddlers and rock climbers from around the world. After a winter hiatus, ASCI will kick off its second season in April.