Skeleton (sport)
Brady Canfield pushes off at the start
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| Highest governing body | Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing |
|---|---|
| First played | Late 19th century, Switzerland |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | 1 |
| Type | Winter sport, time trial |
| Venue | Skeleton tracks |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | 1928, 1948, 2002 to present |
Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or -sleigh) down a frozen track while lying face down (prone), as well as the name of the sled employed. Unlike other sliding sports of bobsleigh and luge, the race always involves single riders. Like bobsleigh, but unlike luge, the race begins with a running start from the opening gate at the top of the course. The sport (and the sled) were named from the bony appearance of the sled.
Previously, skeleton bob appeared in the Olympic program in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928 and again in 1948. It was added permanently to the Olympic program for the 2002 Winter Olympics, at which stage a women's race was added.
During elite racing the rider experiences forces up to 5 g and reaches speeds over 130 km/h (80 mph).
The skeleton originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as a spinoff of the popular British sport called Cresta sledding. Although skeleton "sliders" use equipment similar to that of Cresta "riders", the two sports are different: while skeleton is run on the same track used by bobsleds and luge, Cresta is run on Cresta-specific sledding tracks only. Skeleton sleds are steered using torque provided by the head and shoulders. The Cresta toboggan does not have a steering or braking mechanism, though Cresta riders use rakes on their boots in addition to shifting body weight to help steer and brake.
The sport of skeleton can be traced to 1882, when English soldiers constructed a toboggan track between the towns of Davos and Klosters. While toboggan tracks were not uncommon at the time, the added challenge of curves and bends in the Swiss track distinguished it from those of Canada and the United States.
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