Valiant Entertainment, one of the leading comic
character-based entertainment companies,
will design the competition and practice race suits for the USA Luge team
through 2014. The USA Luge National and
Junior National teams will wear Valiant-designed race suits for the 2012-13 and
2013-14 World Cup and World Championship seasons. This groundbreaking partnership marks the
first time ever that an entertainment company has outfitted a national sports
organization with uniquely designed uniforms inspired by a comic book
character. Valiant and USA Luge will
also work together to create the look of the team's race gear when they compete
at Sochi, Russia during the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The partnership also
includes other marketing and cross-promotional opportunities.
Each suit created by Valiant and its illustrators will be
designed to resemble the look of the character X-O Manowar, one of the comic
book industry’s most popular characters with over 8 million comic books sold and a best-selling
2012 comic book relaunch. A key character of the Valiant Universe, X-O Manowar
is a time-displaced warrior bonded to a suit of extraterrestrial armor, the
most technologically advanced weapon in existence, and is also notable for a
best-selling, multiplatform video game crossover with Marvel’s Iron Man.
USA Luge spends a considerable amount of time researching
the fastest possible fabrics for their race suits. Each summer, tests are
conducted at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel to determine, among other
things, the most aerodynamically efficient race suit for competition use. The
suits are fitted and tailored to each athlete, as even the smallest wrinkle can
result in lost speed, especially in a sport timed to the 1/1000th of a second.
“This partnership between Valiant and USA Luge is an
incredibly exciting and unique opportunity.
As entertainment marketing becomes more challenging and the marketplace
more global, we see this as a fantastic way to marry many elements. Olympic sports are a worldwide pastime enjoyed
by millions, while Valiant comics and their characters seek to embody the same
superhuman traits so often found in these special athletes. And just as X-O Manowar is enhanced by his
armor, it is our hope that the athletes of USA Luge are similarly emboldened by
their X-O Manowar designed race suits. Luge is not just any sport -- it is a
thrilling endeavor of high speed, challenge and edge, which makes its athletes
a perfect fit for our Valiant superheroes," said Jason Kothari, CEO of
Valiant Entertainment.
"We are honored to be working with the world-class
team at Valiant. This is a tremendous opportunity for USA Luge to reach out to
a new group of fans and grow with a company on the fast track, just like our
athletes. Our organization has always taken pride in working with our family of
sponsors to create unique marketing opportunities surrounding our sport and the
Valiant partnership is no exception. We look forward to the build-up to 2014
with Valiant in our corner," said Gordy Sheer, USA Luge Marketing Director
and 1998 Olympic silver medalist.
USA Luge National and Junior National Team athletes will
unveil their new X-O Manowar inspired speedsuits at the World Cup at the first
races on November 24th and 25th in Innsbruck, Austria.