My introduction to the sport of luge happened completely by chance. My mother, Kathryn, worked for Verizon for many years. Verizon, being the main sponsor of USA Luge for 33+ years, had flyers for the grassroots development tryouts on the bulletin board in the office in which my mother worked. I got home from school one day and was asked, “Hey Jayson, do you want to go try luge in Syracuse, NY next weekend?”
“Mom, what’s luge?” – My exact response. “I’m not really sure, but the kid on the poster looked like they were having fun!” And that’s all it took for me to say okay.
A couple days later, my family and I traveled the three hours north to Syracuse and I took part in a 2-hour clinic. The first 20-30 minutes were spent learning how to steer a sled, what good body position on the sled was, and (most importantly) how to stop a sled. The rest of the time was spent putting all of that into action on modified sleds going down a paved hill weaving in and out of a cone course set up by the coaches on hand.
I was not a natural, but I showed a lot of coachability and athleticism, and was invited to try the real thing on the track in Lake Placid, NY that winter. I don’t remember much about that first time on ice, but I do remember the immediate addiction that was instilled in me. The addiction to adrenaline.
Over the next few years, I worked my way up the ladder of teams from the Development Program all the way to two Olympics. Competing in Europe, North America and Asia. Luge has taken me around the world a few times, to places I never dreamed of, and allowed me to make some amazing friendships with people from different cultures and backgrounds who were brought together because of a crazy sledding sport.
Becoming an Olympian in Sochi, Russia in 2014 was a dream come true. Gaining that experience meant the world to me and my family as it was a culmination of 15 years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I’ll never forget the feeling of walking into Opening Ceremonies with Team USA, in front of 40,000 people! I still get chills thinking about that day.
PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018 was a completely different experience. In Sochi I was happy to have made the team as a first timer. Going into my second Games as a medal contender, ranked 5th in the world that season, and 3rd the year before. It didn’t feel like I was lucky to be there, it felt like I was right where I belonged, and I was ready for it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have our best day as a team and we had to settle for a 4th place result, gut-wrenching. It took me years to truly get over that result and allow myself to find joy in the sliding again. As tough a pill as it was to swallow it was also something that continued the spark in me to continue my career, I didn’t feel like I had completed my time on the sled.
While attempting for a third Olympic Games, my teammate and I qualified the sled for Team USA, but due to a policy we unfortunately would not be the team to get that spot. Instead of letting that disappointment define that moment, I decided to lend my personal sled to my teammates who would be representing the US in Beijing. I even flew from Frankfurt, Germany to Salt Lake City, UT to help give a two week “crash course” (bad pun) to my teammates on the nuances of my sled. That team eventually went to the Games in 2022 and finished 11th (bettering their personal best by six places at the time), which made me incredibly proud. Not just proud of them, but of my own choices to help others in a time where I felt crushed.
After retiring from international competition in Jan. 2022, I immediately transitioned into coaching. I am now the Head Coach of the Youth National Team and will be the Head Coach for the 2024 Youth Olympic Games being held in PyeongChang, South Korea (the location of my second Olympics). I have found it incredibly rewarding to work with the next generation of athletes, helping them learn and grow, and sharing the sport I love with them.
I am still the same little kid who fell in love with luge. It’s a sport that has given me so much, and I love that I get to share that experience with anyone who dares to slide!
I was fortunate enough to find a lot of success throughout my luge career. Who would have thought a kid from Berwick, who had no idea what luge was when I first heard the word, could slide his way into the history books!