Event guide: Skeleton

If you think skeleton looks easy, try hurtling headfirst down an ice track at 85mph, on a piece of metal half the length of your body.

Shelley Rudman won silver at the 2006 Winter Olympics with Kristan Bromley and Adam Pengilly just missing out on medals in the men's event.

The skeleton is all about a big push at the start and tactical steering after that as the slider is taken on a bone-jangling journey down the icy course.

The race is over the same course as the bobsleigh and luge, but there is no team event. In skeleton, you are on your own.

HOW THE EVENT UNFOLDS

SKELETON FACTS Venue: Cesana Pariol Competition dates: 16-17 Feb Holders: Men - Jim Shea (US) Women - Maya Pedersen (SUI) Cesana course is 1,430m long and includes a hairpin bend and an S-bend Event guide: Bobsleigh Event guide: Luge

Once on the course, the athlete steers the skeleton by gently transferring weight to the left or right.

It is important to take as direct a line as possible, avoid contact with the walls and reduce wind resistance by keeping elbows in and shoulders in contact with the sled.

After the finish, the feet are dragged along the ice to bring the skeleton to a standstill.

The Olympic competition consists of two runs, both held on the same day.

The start order for the first run is based on a random draw the day before competition, and only the top 20 men and top 12 women after the first qualify for the second run.

Skeleton explained

For the final run, the slider with the best time goes last, and the one with the best combined time from the two runs wins.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

There are obviously no places in the UK to do a full skeleton run, but that is not the end of it.

Try the British Bob Skeleton Association's website to find out about taking part overseas with specialist trips.

BBSA

Development days for the general public are run in Bath at the push practice facility. The BBSA's website has details on these.

And for more news and information on the sport around the world, check out the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation's website.

FIBT