SAM Magazine--San Diego, Calif., Oct. 4, 2004--Future Network USA is launching a new Future Action Sports group that will include consumer and trade snowboard magazines. The group is headed by Fran Richards, former VP sales and marketing, publisher at TransWorld Media. Both publications will be based in San Diego.

The quarterly Snowboard Trade News will debut at the Snowsport Industries America trade show in Las Vegas in January 2005. It will be a free, controlled-circulation publication and the sole snowboard-only trade pub, Richards says.

In August 2005, Future Action Sports will launch an as-yet-unnamed consumer snowboard magazine. Richards describes the title as "focused on reader needs rather than elite athlete needs. With an inclusive voice and photos that engage all snowboarders, we will bring world-class riding to the reader instead of holding it at armís length. Everyone is invited to our party." Details regarding the title, circulation, frequency and staff are coming soon, he says.

The team behind the new publications has solid credentials. At TransWorld, Richards oversaw group advertising sales for Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Surf, Stance, Ride BMX, TW BMX and Freeze magazines. Since departing TransWorld in August 2002, Richards ran youth marketing firm Modern World LLC. Future Network USA ranks in the top 20 audited newsstand publishers in the U.S., and is one of the fastest-growing. \