Dow and USA Luge have announced the renewal of Dow as the Official Technical Partner of the USA Luge team through 2022. The two organizations have been working together since 2007, successfully combining elements of science, engineering and technology for exceptional sled performance on the track.
The new deal comes nearly a year after a historic performance at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and on the heels of a successful Luge World Cup and World Championship,
Through this ongoing partnership, Dow leverages the knowledge of physical sciences and state-of-the-art engineering tools to develop an advanced luge sled. Scientists from Dow’s Materials Engineering Center work with USA Luge engineers to understand the key variables driving performance and to design sleds that are faster, more stable and more precise, followed by thorough testing both in-lab and on the track.
“The collaboration between Dow and USA Luge to seek advancement in sled design applies Dow’s extensive knowledge of the science of speed, pushing the boundaries of engineering possibilities to create breakthrough sporting experiences for athletes,” said Mike Reed, vice president of Dow Olympic & Sports Solutions. “The innovations that we developed with the team have applications beyond sport and are an excellent business case for forging technical partnerships with high performance teams such as USA Luge.”
Luge competitions occur in an extreme race environment at low temperatures, high speeds and under high G-forces. Material selection and component design are critical to facilitate safe and successful runs on the track. Through the renewed partnership, Dow scientists will continue to work with USA Luge to leverage state-of-the-art virtual modeling, prototyping and extensive testing. The team will also obtain data and feedback from athletes and coaches to ensure the materials selected can withstand tough racing conditions.
“Our partnership with Dow has delivered advances in sled design that have helped U.S. athletes to race faster and with more control over the sled,” said Chris Mazdzer, USA Luge athlete and PyeongChang 2018 men’s single silver medalist. “With races determined by thousandths of a second, every small adjustment matters.”
Team USA Luge has seen historic successes at the Olympic Games with Erin Hamlin winning the first ever USA luge singles medal at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 with a bronze, followed by Mazdzer’s first U.S. men’s singles medal at PyeongChang 2018.
“Our partnership with Dow has elevated our ability to perform strongly in races from the onset,” said Gordy Sheer, director of marketing and sponsorship of USA Luge and an Olympic silver medalist. “We are proud of the achievements to date – both on and off the track – and are now looking ahead to continued success with an eye toward preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.”
World Cup racing will return to the United States in the fall of 2019.
