History of Skeleton
Skeleton was on the Olympic program at the St. Moritz 1928 and St. Moritz 1948 Olympic Winter Games. The sport returned to the Olympic Winter Games competition schedule in 2002 in Salt Lake City.
The Races
In skeleton, there are separate racing disciplines for men and women. In World Cup competitions, two heats are held over one day in each event. At the Olympic Games and World Championships (held annually except in an Olympic year), four heats are held over two days. The athlete with the lowest combined time in all events is the winner. There are also Intercontinental Cup, America's Cup and Europa Cup race series. Development level circuits for newer sliders, these races allow the athletes to gain experience and earn the qualifications needed to compete at the World Cup and World Championships levels. In addition to the senior World Championships, athletes under the age of 23 can compete in the junior World Championships.
Start Times
Start time — the time it takes the sled to travel the first 65 metres down the track — is the most critical part of the race. Without a competitive start, at least within 1/10 of a second of the fastest, a medal finish is next to impossible. As a rule, a 1/10 of a second lead at the start translates into a 3/10 of a second advantage by the bottom of the course.
Top skeleton sliders are looking for maximum power and acceleration as they push their sled from a standing start, with the first 65 metres typically covered in about five seconds while reaching speeds of more than 40 kilometres per hour.
top of the page
Driving
Once the athlete has loaded onto the sled at the start, they must then steer it through twisting, high speed turns and straightaways where top speeds can reach more than 135 kilometres per hour. Steering of the sled is done by shoulder and leg manipulations, affecting the runners’ contacts and changing the sled’s direction. Steer too hard and the sled will skid, losing valuable time. Steer too little and the sled is at the mercy of the track, causing a slow time at best, and a crash at worst.
Skeleton sliders often talk of the feel they require to race well, and the sense they develop of when to let the sled run and when to steer. Just as downhill skiers try different lines to find the quickest way down a slope, so too do skeleton drivers study every twist and turn on a track to figure out the fastest way to the finish.
Ranking
In World Cup competition, medals are awarded to the top three rankings, and recognition awards for placing fourth through sixth. In addition, points are awarded to the top 30 finishers in each World Cup race. This leads to the awarding of World Cup titles in each of the disciplines which are won by those accumulating the most points over the full season. At the World Championships, medals are awarded to the top three positions in each of the events.
top of the page
Tracks
Skeleton races historically took place on natural ice tracks. Today, most competition takes place on tracks with a refrigerated ice surface. A notable exception is the natural ice track in St. Moritz — a regular stop on the World Cup circuit. Most tracks are approximately 1,500 metres long and all have unique characteristics and varying degrees of difficulty. All courses drop a minimum specified vertical distance and feature numerous banked curves from top to bottom.
top of the page
The Sled
The skeleton sled is low in profile and heavy, with a fiberglass pod mounted onto a steel chassis/frame that provides the aerodynamics to the pod’s lower part. The sled runs on two highly polished steel runners. The runners are mounted such that the bend of the runners (bow) bow can be controlled, which assists in the steering of the sled. As there are no brakes on a skeleton sled, the athlete and sled stop by decelerating in the braking stretch. Occasionally, either fresh snow or foam pads will be placed in the track to assist with braking.
The temperature of the steel runners is taken electronically immediately prior to each race heat. Heating of the runners is illegal. Increasing the runner temperature provides a competitive advantage as the runners melt the ice beneath them which creates a film between the ice and runners, increasing the speed of the sled on the ice. This process must be regulated in order to carry out a fair competition. At the finish line, the sled and athlete are weighed to ensure that they are below the maximum weight. To place all competitors on equal footing, sleds are standardized according to specifications set by the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT).
top of the page
Equipment
Skeleton athletes wear alpine ski racing-type helmets with an affixed chin guard component and skin-tight racing uniforms made from a stretch material. Racing shoes are similar to track spikes and provide traction on the ice. Athletes wear either goggles or face shields and some wear elbow and shoulder padding under their racing suits.
top of the page
Interesting Facts About Skeleton
Considered the world's first sliding sport, skeleton originated in the Swiss town of St. Moritz in the late 1800s. The first competition was held in 1884 and saw riders race down the road from St. Moritz to Celerina, where the winner received a bottle of champagne.
The sport of skeleton acquired its name in 1892, when a new sled made mostly of metal was introduced; it was thought to look like a skeleton.
top of the page
International Sport Federation (IF)
Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Togogganing (FIBT)
www.fibt.com
Canadian National Sport Organization (NSO)
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS)
www.bobsleigh.ca
BC Provincial Sport Organization
BC Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association
www.slidebc.ca
top of the page