Panther Graphics announces partnership with USA Luge

J.R. Hildebrand displaying the work of Panther Graphics last year at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (February 7, 2014) – As Team USA Olympic athletes prepare for opening ceremonies, and the start of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the Panther Graphics team anxiously awaits the debut of their custom Orafol vinyl wraps on the world's stage. Panther Graphics began working with USA Luge months ago to design and wrap runners to be used in the 2014 winter games. The wraps were designed by USA Luge, then printed and installed at the Panther Racing shop in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"USA Luge is thrilled to have the support of Panther Graphics for our newly-designed runners," said USA Luge Marketing Director and 1998 Olympic silver medalist, Gordy Sheer. "The new composite materials, developed by Dow Chemical, are critical in reducing vibration. The vinyl wrap applied by Panther Graphics helps optimize aerodynamics through a perfectly smooth finish," Sheer added. "Plus, the runners look great. The athletes are thrilled with their quality and stunning appearance."

The red, white, and blue runners were installed with extreme precision by the Panther Graphics team, and sent off to USA Luge, a team that brings a blend of youth and experience to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Chris Mazdzer, who will be joined by Tucker West and Aiden Kelly, looks to improve from his 13th-place finish at the Vancouver Games. On the women's side, 2009 world champion and now three-time Olympian Erin Hamlin heads the group. Hamlin is the team's most consistent racer, with five results thus far between fifth and eighth places. In addition to the doubles field, which includes Matt Mortensen and two-time Olympian Preston Griffall, four US members will also compete in the Olympic relay event.

Panther Racing President, and Director of Panther Graphics, Nic Baumann says working with Team USA has created a sense of pride in the Graphics crew."Working with USA Luge has been a great experience for Panther Graphics. Our Orafol vinyl wraps are meant to hold up in the most extreme conditions, whether that be on a race car or luge runner," says Baumann. "It's rewarding for us to see the finished product in use at such a large scale event, and to be a small part of what we hope is a very successful Olympics for USA Luge."

Over the past couple of years, Panther has built up a rapport with other members of the USA's winter Olympic team as well. In addition to wrapping runners for USA Luge, members of the Panther Racing team created a new carbon fiber bobsled for the four-man bobsled team last year. The new sled was brought to Sochi as a backup for the Olympic gold-winning sled used by USA Bobsled in the 2010 Vancouver games.

Luge will be contested at the Sanki Sliding Center during the Sochi Games. The state-of-the-art track is built at the Alpika Service Mountain Ski Resort, with its track finishing area located at Rzhanaya Polyana. Men's Singles Luge runs begin on February 8th, followed by the women on February 10th, Doubles on the 12th, and the Team Relay Competition on February 13th.

About Panther Graphics:

Panther Graphics is an elite vehicle wrap, graphic design, sign and promotional branding company located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Panther Graphics specializes in designing and installing customized artwork on high-quality vinyl and other innovative textiles. Our services include graphic design and concept development, vehicle and fleet wraps, storefront wraps, event branding, sign building, decal production, customized projects and a wide variety of additional services. Our master-certified vinyl installers and graphic designers are among the most talented in the world and provide specialized services to each of our clients with flawless attention-to-detail. Panther Graphics prides itself on making each client's experience unique, and accomplishing their objectives in a unique and original style that is exclusive to the rest of the market.

About USA Luge:

USA Luge is an Olympic class member organization of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of luge in the United States. A not-for-profit organization, USA Luge – the official American representative to the International Luge Federation (F.I.L.) – is based in Lake Placid, N.Y. with a western office in Park City, Utah, and its natural track operations in the Marquette/Negaunee, Mich. area. Chartered in 1979, as a direct result of the Congressional Amateur Sports Act of 1978, it is the responsibility of USA Luge to recruit, prepare, train and equip the United States National Luge Team for international and Olympic competition, as well as promote the growth of the sport nationwide.