Skeleton

Head tucked down, skimming just a few centimetres above the icy track, body movement guiding the sled along the run.

Staring the skeleton jet men straight in the eye, the last curve races towards them, then the finish line, with its rewards for those guided by courage and the most advanced aerodynamic materials.

Shooting from the prone position of the descent to the highest step on the medal podium.

Face down, this is the position that the athletes take up on the skeleton. Lying prone, facing downhill, arms at their sides, and a maximum speed of 130 kilometres an hour.

Skeleton athletes use the same track as bobsleigh and luge. To move the sled, only the thrust force produced by the athlete and the force of gravity re permitted. In the skeleton discipline, steering is carried out by means of the athlete's body movements.

The start

The start is the same as in bobsleigh competitions. Once the green light flashes, the skeleton athlete has a maximum time of 30 seconds to start. After the thrust phase, which varies from 25 to 40 metres, the athlete leaps into position on the sled and starts his descent.

The Play Field

Skeleton athletes use the same track as bobsleigh and luge. The track must be at least 1,200 metres long, with the ascending lengths of the course measuring around 12% of the total distance.

After the finish line, the track climbs into an ascent to allow the team to stop. The combination of a straight and curving track creates a challenging course.

Source: www.torino2006.org

Event schedule