Skeleton racing involves plummeting head-first down a steep and treacherous ice track on a tiny sled. It is considered the world’s first sliding sport.

Thrill-seeking tourists
Sleighing is one of the oldest winter sports. Descriptions of the sport can be found in 16th-century literature, but as a racing sport it can be traced to the mid-19th century, when British tourists started sliding down snowbound roads in the Alps. British and American holidaymakers built the first toboggan run in Davos in 1882.

The Cresta run
Skeleton sled racing owes it entire early history to St Moritz and the famed Cresta Run. The sport developed in the Swiss resort town as a pursuit for the rich. E. F. Benson put it best when he wrote in 1913, “There is one Mecca, there is one St Peter’s, and there is one Cresta.”

Olympic history
Men’s skeleton made two early appearances on the Olympic programme at its “ancestral” home of St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948. It was then dropped until it reappeared as a men’s and women’s event at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Brakes
There are no brakes. Competitors attempting to slow down on the course are disqualified. At the end of the run the athlete slows the sled down with his or her feet.

Bumpers
Front and rear bumpers absorb shocks and protect the athlete from the wall.

Frame
Early frames bore a vague resemblance to a skeleton, which is how the sport acquired its name.

Gloves
These are usually made of leather and worn for protection.

Handles
Handles are used for the start push and during the race. They must be covered with soft material.

Helmet
All competitors must wear helmets, which are hard plastic and equipped with a chin guard and visor.

Racing suit
The racing suit is a tight-fitting bodysuit made of elastic fabric that may have padding sewn into the elbows.

Shoes
They are made of synthetic material and have spikes on the soles for traction during the start push.

Sled
The sled is made of two runners. The frame must be constructed of steel. The same sled must be used in all the heats of the competition. It may weigh no more than 43kg for men and 35kg for women.

Boarding
The athlete lifts his legs under his body and drops onto the skeleton in one smooth movement, avoiding loss of momentum and instability.

G-Force
Gravitational force that holds the sled and athletes on the wall of a banked turn. One “G” is equal to the force of gravity. On some tracks, the “G”-force exerted on an athlete can exceed five G’s. This would make the athlete feel as if he or she weighed more than five times their actual weight.

Hairpin bend
A very tight corner forcing the skeleton into a half turn.

Kreisel
German for circle. A curve which becomes a complete circle by crossing over itself.

Labyrinth
A stretch of track made up entirely of curves, perhaps four or five, with no straith stretch in between.

Line
The line corresponds to the optimum trajectory on the track, enabling a competitor to post the best possible time.

Lip
A safety barrier at the top of the track to prevent sleds from going off the track.

Omega
A curve which is shaped like the Greek letter of the alphabet.

Push
The skeleton is pushed as hard as possible over a 30-40m stretch to give it the momentum it needs.

Speed
Skeleton speeds vary between 120km/h and 135km/h.