White Castle USA Luge Slider Search is ready to hit the road looking for more Olympic medalists

Tour gets underway May 12-13 in Columbus, Ohio; Then it’s off to the races!

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The nation’s two foremost slider experts, White Castle and USA Luge, are ready to capitalize on the Olympic momentum that began with Erin Hamlin’s 2014 bronze medal and continued with Chris Mazdzer’s silver medal three months ago in Pyeongchang, followed by his current appearance on ABC Television’s Dancing with the Stars.

White Castle is the first and only fast food organization in the United States to become an official partner of USA Luge and title sponsor of the off-season recruitment program, the White Castle USA Luge Slider Search.

The summer and fall tour will kick off May 12-13 in White Castle’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio. From there, USA Luge’s traveling ramp and wheeled sleds will visit youngsters in Minneapolis June 2-3, Westmont, Ill. June 16-17, Indianapolis June 23-24, and Burlington, Vt. July 7-8. The White Castle USA Luge Slider Search will also make stops in San Francisco, Long Island, Salt Lake City and the team’s hometown of Lake Placid. Those dates will be announced shortly.

Two clinics are offered daily; participants need only attend one.

An Olympic sport since 1964, luge consists of athletes sliding down a track of ice on sleds, at speeds approaching 90 miles per hour. In addition to six Olympic medals, USA Luge athletes, referred to as ‘sliders,’ have won almost 600 elite level and junior international medals since 1994, making the organization one of the most decorated Winter Olympics National Governing Bodies.

USA Luge’s longstanding recruitment effort, appropriately titled the ‘Slider Search’, has been instrumental in raising the sport’s awareness, driving interest among young athletes and providing the talent pool for future Olympic competitions.

"As a family-owned business since 1921, White Castle continues to innovate to create the perfect lineup of sliders for our loyal Cravers," said Lynn Blashford, vice president of marketing at White Castle. "We’ve taken those efforts even further by partnering with USA Luge in identifying the next generation of sliders to hopefully earn their way to many more Olympic medals in the future."

The two slider organizations have collaborated on recruiting since last spring.

Kids aged nine through 13 are welcome to attend, experience wheeled luge sleds at slower speeds and ultimately be considered for the USA Luge Junior Development Team. The coaches guiding each event include National and Olympic team athletes, giving each young participant professional instruction and inspiration.

"The White Castle Slider Search is critical to finding luge athletes to represent the United States who will someday go for the gold," said Gordy Sheer, USA Luge Director of Marketing and Sponsorships, and 1998 Olympic silver medalist. "A morning or afternoon of trying something fun and new could be the first step down a path to glory."

For more information about White Castle, visit whitecastle.com. Details about USA Luge, the ‘Slider Search’ program and clinic registration can be found on http://www.teamusa.org/usa-luge/slider-search. Each young athlete will receive a complimentary Slider Search t-shirt.

About White Castle

White Castle, America’s first fast-food hamburger chain based in Columbus, Ohio, has been making Bold Moves™ as a family-owned business for more than 97 years. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, serving The Original Slider®, made from 100 percent USDA inspected beef. Today White Castle owns and operates nearly 400 restaurants in 13 states. The pioneering original slider, Time Magazine’s most influential burger of all time, is served alongside a menu of creatively crafted sliders and other tasty food options. White Castle’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants and bakeries as well as three frozen food processing plants. The retail division markets White Castle’s famous fare in grocery, club stores, convenience stores, vending operations and concessions across the United States and in a growing number of international locations, including military base exchanges around the world.

Cravers on-the-go can access sweet deals and place a pick-up order any time in the official White Castle app. Download the app today from the iTunes App Store or Google Play. For more information on White Castle visit whitecastle.com.

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Media Contacts:

Randy Crader, Paul Werth Associates

P: 614-224-8114 or C: 812-344-4466

rcrader@paulwerth.com

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