Engineering Excellence for Elite Athletes

Supported by world class aerodynamicists from the highest levels of motorsport, Jacuzzi Aero LLC aims to provide a comprehensive aerodynamic development program for USA Luge. The objectives will be to extensively review designs for both men’s and women’s doubles and singles using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing to minimize aerodynamic drag. Initial reviews indicate that there is low hanging fruit for luge in the sled design to minimize drag and improve performance. The larger objective is to prove the value of Jacuzzi Aero LLC’s ability to aid in other sports across the Olympic landscape. The team has already identified several areas to investigate in CFD, culminating in wind tunnel testing either at model scale or full scale with the athletes and revised sled designs. Jacuzzi Aero LLC will support the process end to end, providing regular updates to USA Luge and planning/attending testing and races as necessary.

The requested funding is outlined in the table below. Of note, the team will consult for substantially below market value in order to build confidence in what can be achieved for Team USA. Estimates are toward the higher end for CFD run costs so it is anticipated that more total development will be achieved than outlined. The team will also leverage vendors to donate/reduce costs for maximum efficacy.

Item Units Cost
CFD Runs (SimCenter, 140 credits/run) 120 $16,800
CAD License 1 $10,000
RAM Upgrades 1 $5,000
Scanning Support 1 $8,000
Surfacing Support 1 $10,000
Wind Tunnel Model/Components/Hours 1 $50,000
Travel 1 $15,000
Consulting Costs ($100/hour) 240 $24,000
TOTAL $138,800

With the support of the USOPC, measurable and significant aerodynamic improvements can be made that will yield increased performance and medals for USA Luge across the World Cup and Olympic cycles. As previously mentioned, the aspiration is to help other sports maximize their aerodynamics in the future and see Team USA dominate in both the summer and winter Games.

Meet The Team

Dr. Eric Jacuzzi

Dr. Eric Jacuzzi is world renowned aerodynamics expert with over 15
years of experience in elite motorsport. He spent over 12 years at
NASCAR, rising from an aerodynamics engineer to Vice President of
Vehicle Performance. Prior to NASCAR, he was a computational
aerodynamicist at Corvid Technologies/Richard Childress Racing.
He is responsible for several innovations including the Next Gen
race car aerodynamics, the 2023 NASCAR Garage 56 entry for which
he was awarded the Dino Toso Racecar Aerodynamicist of the Year,
and numerous safety enhancements to prevent aerodynamic liftoff
across NASCAR’s three national series. Dr. Jacuzzi also continues to
advise on aerodynamic performance enhancements for USA Luge
with an interest in expanding to other sports.
He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from North Carolina State University, a M.S.E. In Aerospace
Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering
University. Dr. Jacuzzi lives with his wife Dr. Maggie Jacuzzi (pictured at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games)
in Matthews with their two children Lily and Jade.

Mitch Collins

Mitch Collins is a championship-winning Aerodynamicist with 7 years of
technical experience specializing in motorsports aerodynamics and
vehicle performance optimization. Delivered aerodynamic
solutions contributing to several NASCAR Championships, IndyCar
Championships, Indianapolis 500 victories, and IMSA GTD wins.
Expertise in aerodynamic development, data-driven performance
analysis, and iterative design validation through CFD, wind tunnel, and
on-track testing. He holds a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the
University of North Carolina Charlotte and lives with his wife Jane in
Huntersville, North Carolina.

Why Choose Jacuzzi Aero?

Unmatched expertise in aerodynamics for elite athletes.

Specialized Knowledge

We focus exclusively on aerodynamics for winter sports.

Tailored Insights

We provide customized consulting for your unique performance needs.

Collaborative Approach

We enhance existing training with technical aerodynamic insights.