Skeleton is one of a handful of sledding sports, along with bobsleigh and luge. Skeleton racers typically lie on a small sled and rocket down an icy track head first at speeds of up to 80 mph. Skeleton can be a dangerous sport, with little protection and no brakes to keep you safe.
Skeleton
The term "skeleton" describes the sport itself, but originally referred to the skeleton sled. Sleds now are made of fiberglass and steel, but they were once made only of steel. The sparse design and closeness to the ground made them resemble a skeleton, which is the name many started to use for the sport and which eventually became its name.
Sliders
Sliders in skeleton refer to the competitors or athletes. Much more is going on than simply sliding down a hill on a sled, but sliders is the name that has stuck.
Start Time
In skeleton, the start time is not the time you are supposed to begin your journey down the track. Start time refers to the time it takes you to travel the first 65 meters of track in your race. Getting off to a good start is the most important element of a skeleton race. A couple of tenths of a second one way or the other can make the difference between victory and defeat at the bottom.
Driving
Driving is what you are doing as you steer the skeleton sled down the track. Since a skeleton slider is in such a precarious position and traveling so quickly, any slight lean one way or the other can make a huge difference in your race. Slight nudges, leans and the use of friction help you drive your sled down the course. You can't just turn when you need to: You need to think ahead and know that a turn is coming up ahead, says Canadian silver medalist Jeff Pain.
Track
The skeleton track refers to the hill or course that you travel down in the race. Most tracks are about 1,500 meters longs and man-made. The skeleton track is essentially the same as a track used for luge or bobsled.
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