×

ORDA adds Terdiman as sponsor

USA Luge doubles partners Chris Mazdzer, left, and Jayson Terdiman pose Saturday, Nov. 30 at the finish line of the Mount Van Hoevenberg sliding track after their event at the World Cup in Lake Placid. They crashed on their second run. (Provided photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID — U.S. luger Jayson Terdiman is joining his doubles partner — Chris Mazdzer — as a new face of this village as the state Olympic Regional Development Authority has signed him up as a sponsor athlete.

Mazdzer has been in the sponsor athlete program for multiple years, meaning he gets some money to pay bills so he can train as a U.S. Olympian in exchange for helping ORDA market the Lake Placid region.

“They try to find local athletes to help spread the good cheer of ORDA,” Terdiman said while he was in town Nov. 26 prior to the World Cup luge event at Mount Van Hoevenberg. “It really does help me to be able to train and pay my rent and my phone bills.”

Terdiman is one of three ORDA sponsor athletes this winter, according to ORDA spokeswoman Elise Ruocco.

“We welcomed Jayson to our team of athletes this year along with our alumni in the program — American ski jumper Tara Geraghty-Moats and American luger Chris Mazdzer,” Ruocco wrote in an email. “All of these athletes assist in the awareness of ORDA and our brand. We just recently partnered with Jayson and we are excited to see where he and Chris both shine this season.”

Sponsor athletes mainly help ORDA at events. During the World Cup, for example, Mazdzer and Terdiman helped ORDA with its social media.

“I see it as a great way to continue my networking,” Terdiman said. “I’ll do appearances. I’ll get to meet some different people. Staying involved with the local area and venues, things that are going on in town. I think it’s a really cool opportunity for myself. I hope that ORDA sees it the same way for them and to use me as a spokesperson in a way.”

Terdiman’s home town is Berwick, Pennsylvania, but he’s been living in Lake Placid full time since 2007 to train for USA Luge. Mazdzer’s hometown is Saranac Lake.

Terdiman competed in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics with former doubles partner Matt Mortensen, who retired in 2018. Mazdzer is a three-time Olympian, who competed in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics as a singles athlete. He joined Terdiman on the doubles sled last season and competes in the doubles and men’s singles races.

Terdiman and Mazdzer are currently the only doubles athletes competing for USA Luge this season. They are ranked 16th in the world, according to the International Luge Federation. Their next World Cup race is Saturday and Sunday in Altenberg, Germany.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today