Skeleton events take place on the same track where bobsleigh events are staged. The athletes push the sled with one hand or both hands, before diving into the sled to slide down on the ice track. They ride the sled in a prone position, with their chins hanging only centimetres above the surface. With their arms attached to the body, they manoeuvre the sled with their shoulders, knees and toes.
It is very important to use your instinct in skeleton, as the sled can swerve out of control with only a slight change in the centre of gravity. The athletes may speed up to 150km/h (93mph) on the sled, whilst having to deal with pressure more than five times the G-force. World-class skeleton athletes use their maximum power and acceleration at the start, running the first 50 metres within five seconds at a speed of 40km/h. The skeleton sled is ridden in a low position, and its main body is made of heavy iron and glass fibre with two sophisticated runners (blades) attached underneath. Since there is no braking system in skeleton, the athletes rely on gravity, the snow or foam pads to slow down.
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