Lake Placid (FIL) USA Luge association now announced their “Athletes of the Year”. The Honours went to Erin Hamlin, Bengt Walden and Chris Mazdzer/Jayson Terdiman.

Erin Hamlin grabbed her first-career Female Athlete of the Year trophy The 22-year-old was eighth at 40th World Championships at Oberhof and slid to a career-high seventh place overall Viessmann World Cup finish.

In just his first season as a member of the U.S. luge team, Bengt Walden claimed the 2008 Male Athlete of the Year award. Formally of Sweden, Walden enjoyed a career-best season in 2007-08. The 35-year-old finished a career-high 13th in the final 2008 overall Viessmann World Cup rankings and was 12th at Worlds. also a career-best.

Chris Mazdzer and Jayson Terdiman were honored as USA Luge’s Team of the Year. Only 15-years-old in February, Kate Hansen became the United States’ youngest-ever junior world luge champion. That victory, combined with helping USA Luge to the 23rd Junior World Luge Championship team event gold medal, allowed Hansen to win the 2008 Junior Female Athlete of the Year award. In addition to winning the Team of the Year award, Mazdzer secured his fifth-career Junior Male Athlete of the Year honor.