When our 120 promotional copies of
Adventure Sports Magazine (ASM) failed to arrive in time for inclusion in the
STORM
participant race bags, I didn't think much of it. We've had to
gently remind ASM before other races so I just casually sent an email
to their office. The email bounced back as
undeliverable. I tried a few other addresses for people I know at the magazine (I contributed a small article a few months back and
HRAdventure has done a lot with their Mobile Tour and events team). They all bounced back. Something wasn't right.
Next, I notice a comment on
CheckpointZero about ASM possibly going out of business. This started to look like bad news.
Finally, I get an email from one of the ASM employees sharing a story
of locked offices, ownership issues, and that December would be the
unplanned final issue of ASM. This was bad news.
I hear murmurs of other parties interested in buying the magazine,
riding in on a white horse to keep the magazine in publication, but I
wouldn't count on anything. It's a real bummer, too, as ASM was a
unifying force for the sport . . . it was like the local coffee shop
that everyone hung out at on Saturday mornings. Even though some
of the recent ASM content struck me as odd, specifically their emphasis
on Xterra and attempts to branch out to other demographics, I'll miss
the magazine and how it broadened my exposure to multi-sport all over
the world.
Too bad they couldn't go out on a more professional note, though.
A final "farewell ASM" issue and a respectable departure for the staff
would have been nice! Instead of buying a "thank you" beer for
all their hard work, if any ASM staff come to Virginia and do a
Hampton Roads Adventure event in 2006, just drop me a note and we'll arrange a free race entry for you. Best of luck in the future!