Skelton is a sport that one person lies head first on a sled down a bobsled/luge/skeleton track. The track is1500 meters (5000 feet) long and is all ice. To start you would hold on to the sled and dive on to the ice. To steer you would either shift your weight or slightly drag a toe, seeing as you’re going up to 80 miles per hour!

The Track

In the old days skeleton tracks were made from natural ice; now however, the track is made up of an artificial ice-like substance. The tracks must be 1500 meters long (5000 feet), must have 15 turns and the vertical drop is between 300 and 400 feet. All have different features that distinguish them from the other tracks.

Equipment

Suit: The Fastskin FSII Ice is the suit all the skeleton favorites have been wearing at the Olympics. It is made of a flex-skin fabric that is designed to act like a second skin to reduce drag and be more aerodynamic.

Shoes: the shoes the sliders wear are spiked on the bottom to help them get going as fast as possible in as little time as possible.

Helmet: The helmets used today are made of polycarbonate material and are almost indestructible in normal racing conditions. The helmet its self doesn’t actually have a visor attached to it but the screen is like one giant side of a goggle.

The Sled

The sled is required to be made of steel (runners, frame and saddle.) But the main body is made of fiber glass but was originally made of wood. The slider holds on to the handles and steers.

Weight limits:
Men’s sled: 95 pounds
Woman’s sled: 77 pounds

Total weight limit:
Men’s: 253 pounds
Woman’s: 202 pounds