NewSliders.com Skeleton FAQ
(Photo from David Mayer's site)
1) Wow, are you skeleton people certifiably insane or what? This sports looks dangerous!
While many sliders are extreme-sports enthusiasts or speed junkies, most of them are sane.
And while skeleton looks risky, it's not nearly as dangerous as it seems. Sure, participants often get scrapes and bruises (usually on the arms and shoulders), but severe injuries are extremely rare. Furthermore, ice tracks are extremely safety conscious and "only" one participant has died so far, in a freak accident. If you're obsessed with safety, you should probably stick to a sport like billiards or table tennis. But statistics indicate many sports--such as scuba diving, skydiving, and hang gliding--suffer many more incidents of severe injuries or deaths.
2) Why is it called 'skeleton'?
Some folks say it's either derived from the German word for sled, or because the sled resembles a skeleton. Or, as someone else jokingly noted, it's because its "first participant crashed horribly and all that was recovered was his skeleton."
3) I want to be a spectator--how can I watch skeleton?
Skeleton tracks always welcome spectators (note: camera flashes disallowed because they can distract sliders).
Also, the sport's governing body (FIBT) provides a TV schedule. If you're in Europe, you're in luck, because the sport is popular there. Races are broadcast throughout the season, particularly on Eurosport TV. It's exciting to watch--the announcers are lively and there are many cameras on the track so you can see the slider racing through every turn.
In America, skeleton is rarely shown during non-Olympic years, with most of the footage coming from Fox's Speed Channel.
4) Hey, skeleton sounds cool. How do I participate?
Welcome to the sport. Admittedly skeleton isn't the most accessible of sports, so keep the following things in mind.
First off, the skeleton season usually lasts only from November through March.
Secondly, there are only 14 official tracks in the world, including four in North America: Park City, Utah; Lake Placid, New York; Calgary, Canada; and a new one opening in Vancouver, Canada (home of the 2010 Olympics).
If you can visit those tracks during the season, you'll be able to slide. Introductory classes (as of 2007) include:
Park City, Utah
1) Intro to Skeleton: 1/2 day class (3 slides).
2) Skeleton Fantasy Camp
3) For serious folks (but no experience required): a 4-day (2+ hrs & 12+ slides) school.
Calgary (Alberta), Canada
1) Discover Skeleton: One day (2 hr; 2 slides) for $35 (Canadian dollars)
2) Skeleton School: For more serious folks: 3-day classes for $250
Most the equipment you'll need will be provided for you. Also, read my "crash course" on skeleton for beginners which lists requirements and things you can expect in anticipation of your first slide.
4) I live nowhere near a track, what can I do?
That's unfortunate. Although you can practice push starts by building a wheeled sled, it's impossible to practice driving off the track. You could try a fun alternative like airboarding, which resembles skeleton on an inflatable sled down a ski slope. Also, the sport of street skeleton (resembling street luge) was recently invented; it looks fun but is less safe than ice skeleton.
6) I want to slide competitively, perhaps in the Olympics someday. Do you have any advice for me?
Sure, see my "How to become an Olympic skeleton athlete" FAQ.
7) Who's behind this website?
I was a slider on the USBSF development team at the Park City, Utah track from 2005 to 2007. I created NewSliders.com in 2005 because it was hard to find useful info on the sport--I wanted more people to learn about skeleton, thereby lending the sport greater popularity among both spectators and participants.
For comments, questions, or corrections, you may email me at george[atsign]newsliders{dot}com.
8) I like your site, what can I do to support it?
Thanks, you could: 1) fill out my brief survey, 2) tell your friends about the sport and this site, and 3) post any comments or questions to the forum.