Mellisa Hollingsworth of Canada competes in her second run of the skeleton competition during the FIBT Skeleton World Cup at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, New York. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) The object of skeleton racing seems elementary: ride a sled to the bottom of a steep, icy track as fast as possible.
But it's far from being a cinch. The object is to go fast and ride smooth, to pick the best line around a twisting, winding run, minimize friction and maintain good aerodynamic form.
Doing these things will shave off precious hundredths of seconds that separate contenders from pretenders.
Not as dangerous as it looks
It starts with the athlete hunched over, grasping the handles of the sled. After pushing furiously for 40 metres the slider dives headfirst onto the sled and speeds away, letting gravity go to work. Most sliders will tell you that skeleton is not as dangerous as it looks.
"It's actually the safest of the three sliding sports," says Canadian team member Michelle Kelly. "I've definitely had more injuries in bobsled than I ever had in skeleton. It just looks extreme because of our position close to the ice."
According to Canadian silver medallist Jeff Pain, typical injuries are skin burns and abrasions. It's rare for a top slider to crash or fly off the track. Despite speeds that can exceed 120 km/h skeleton sleds are fairly stable, and even if a slider falls off, going down headfirst makes it easier to climb back on.
Starting and driving
There are two keys to being a successful slider: starting and driving. Do one poorly, and it's hard to compensate, even if you do the other well. The start is a test of strength and speed because a deficit in speed at the top of the run makes it harder for the slider to maximize momentum throughout the run.
Fortunately for slow starters, some time can be made up on the track itself. Driving is all about finding the best way down the run. The slider tries to go as fast as possible while staying in control, avoiding contact with the rails and not riding too high or too low on the turns. Steering is a bit of a delicate art of changing amounts of friction; sliders shift the pressure exerted by their shoulders, elbows, or knees to control the sled.
"Sometimes (steering) is a nudge, sometimes it's a hard pound, it depends on what the corner demands," says Pain. "We steer through friction — sometimes it's subtle, sometimes not. It's not like driving a car, where you can say, 'I need to turn now.' It's more, 'I need to turn in 10 feet.'" Each track is different, so it's important for sliders to know what to expect.
"We always do track walks and figure out the corners ourselves," says Kelly. "It depends on every person on how much they drive - some people are very subtle some are more hard steerers. Basically, you look at the corners and decide where do I want to go in and where do I want to come out."
Maintaining good aerodynamic form is also important. Keeping elbows in and shoulders in contact with the sled are key to minimizing the drag due to wind resistance.
The format
The Olympic skeleton competition consists of four runs, held over tow days. The lowest combined time wins.
The athletes start according to their current ranking in the F.I.B.T. Ranking List. The leader on the list will have start number 1, the next-ranked will have start number 2 and so on.
Only the top 20 men and top 12 women after the first run will advance to the second run. The start order works in reverse of the standings after the first run; the slider with the best time goes last.
The track
Canada's John Montgomery slides through a turn during the 2009 men's Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. (Peter Morgan/Associated Press) There are 14 skeleton/bobsleigh tracks sanctioned for official competition around the world, each with their own personality. Some are "drivers' tracks" that require aggressive steering to get the right line through the turns and curves. Others are simpler, with longer straightaways.
At, 1,450m, the Whistler Sliding Centre track is an average length with the typical run measuring 1,500m. The track packs 16 turns.
The sled — heavier is faster
The base of the skeleton sled is composed of two runners and a frame made of steel. On top of the frame is a fibreglass body molded for the athlete's body and two handles on the sides that the slider grasps during the start. On each corner is a bumper that absorbs shocks if the sled hits the edge of the track.
The size of the sled can vary between 80 centimetres and 120cm long and between 8cm and 20cm high. The maximum combined weight of the athlete and sled is 115 kilograms. The sled by itself may not weigh more than 43kg.
In women's competition, the maximum combined weight of athlete and sled is 92kg, and the sled by itself may not weigh more than 35kg. Obviously, sliders will take advantage of gravity and make their sleds as heavy as possible. But the advantage does go to the athletes carrying more weight on their bodies, as opposed to their sleds, since their bodily weight is easier for them to control.
No substance, such as wax, can be put on the runners, nor can the runners be warmed up prior to the race. Sliders treat their runners with the utmost care, making sure there are no nicks or scratches that can create friction and slow the sled down.
The equipment Sliders wear tight-fitting suits — similar to those worn by speed skaters — to reduce wind resistance, racing spikes on their shoes to allow better traction on the ice for a fast start, gloves and a helmet with face shield.
The equipment
Sliders wear tight-fitting suits — similar to those worn by speed skaters — to reduce wind resistance, racing spikes on their shoes to allow better traction on the ice for a fast start, gloves and a helmet with face shield.
The athletes
Skeleton competitors train much like bobsledders, who train much like sprinters. Because the start is crucial, a lot of weight and sprint training for powerful legs and upper body strength is necessary to ensure an explosive push at the beginning. Many of today's top sliders started out as bobsledders.
