Skeleton is a bobsled race that involves going head-first down a steep, icy track on a small sled. The sport originally was developed in the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz on the Cresta Run for tourists. After briefly appearing in the Olympic Games of 1928 and 1948, skeleton disappeared from the roster until the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.
Equipment
Skeleton competitors must wear hard-plastic helmets with chin guards and visors to protect themselves from injuries. The sled is constructed of a steel frame with two runners. Sledders must use the same sled for all three heats of a skeleton competition. The maximum sled weight is 35 kg for women and 43 kg for men. Sleds must not have brakes of any kind; competitors use their hands and feet to slow down at the end of a run.
Procedure
Competitors lie flat on their stomachs on the sled and slide down the track head first. To begin the race, they push off from behind the sled using one or both handles. The track of Olympic-level skeleton competitions is 1,450 meters long, with a braking zone built in at the end. Competitors have 50 meters to push and jump onto the sled; once the run begins, competitors don't have to do much except maintain speed.
Technique
Sledders wear suits made from flexible lightweight fabric to promote speed and enhance aerodynamics. They also wear shoes fitted with spikes to help with grip. Skeleton competitors can reach speeds nearly 85 miles per hour during competition. Sledders try to make as many straight lines as possible to save time, avoiding the elevated bends. In Olympic competition, four runs are scheduled over two days; the sledder with the lowest combined time wins.
Safety
The narrow, icy skeleton tracks can be treacherous. In addition to the players' helmets, another safety feature is the lip, a barrier at the top of tracks that prevents sleds from sliding off. Sledders should take the most precautions, as well as put forth the most effort to maintain speed, during the labyrinth, a multi-curved portion of the track with little to no straight lines.
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