There’s more to sledding than just sliding down a hill. At the Olympic level, sledders seek every edge that technology, physics and the rule book allow in their pursuit of peak speed. For 2002, a headfirst style called skeleton joins bobsled and luge as a medal sport.
Skeleton
For the first time since 1948, skeleton is an Olympic medal sport. The roots of this headfirst style go back to late 19th-Century Switzerland, and the sport gets its name from early bare-frame versions of a one-man sled that resembled a skeleton.
The push
START.
Planting the sled on the ground, the athlete runs alongside it, gripping the handles. Before mounting the sledder takes 15 to 20 strides in a span of about 5 seconds.
When the athlete passes the first timing eye (about 20 feet), the race clock begins to tick.
A successful run is dependent in part on a good push time. Kristan Bromley, a member of the British skeleton team, advises that for every one-tenth of a second faster an athlete sprints at the start, his or her overall time could improve by three-tenths of a second.
2. LOADING
After reaching maximum speed, the sledder leaps into position before the 90-plus-pound sled gets away.
3. DESCENT POSITION
The sledder then moves himself into a relaxed position to perform maneuvers during the run.
50-meter mark (164 feet)
At this point the sledder is traveling 22 to 26 m.p.h
Driving a good line
The driver must capitalize on momentum and gravity while maneuvering down the track. Better times are achieved by sliding a good line.
BAD LINE
Going into a turn too late will not take advantage of the slope of the track.
Taking a turn too soon will decrease a sledder’s momentum and cause the sled to skid and lose speed.
The skeleton sled
Made of stainless steel and fiberglass, the sled is weighted for speed. For men, the maximum weight with the driver aboard is 253 pounds.
TYPICAL MEN’S SLED
Bumpers: Protect sledder
Handles: Used to push
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Saddle: Holds sledder
Cross-section
Grooves help maintain control.
THE RUNNERS
The stainless steel rods have two grooves cut into half their length. Runners with different metal compositions and grooves of differing depths and widths are used depending on ice conditions. Runners cannot be plated, coated or heated, all of which could help the sled move faster.
‘Driving’ the skeleton
A skeleton sled has no steering mechanism, so athletes must shift their body weight and use their feet to control it. Executing these subtle maneuvers accurately is essential to a successful run. A sledder might use a combination of the following techniques to turn left.
TOE TOUCHING
The sledder drags the toe of his shoe against the ice to make an aggressive turn.
Athletes use both feet to stop at the end of a run.
KNEE PRESSURE
Pressure on either of the sled’s runners causes the blades to press deeper into the ice, pulling the sled to that side.
SHOULDER PRESSURE
Downward pressure on the front of the sled transfers the weight forward and off the blades. For a left turn, a sledder would apply pressure with the right shoulder.
HEAD TURNING
A sledder’s head can act as a rudder. By moving his head to the left, the sledder helps guide the sled in the same direction.
Helmets and chin guards provide protection and also help with frontal aerodynamics.
The track
All sled events will be held on the same track, but starting points differ. The longest run is 4,380 feet for skeleton (about three-quarters of a mile long).
SPEED RECORDS FINISH TIME RECORDS–IN SECONDS
LUGE: 89.8 m.p.h. Men: 44.271 Women: 43.291
Doubles: 43.138
BOBSLED: 88.8 Two-man (men): 47.58 Four-man
Two-man (women): 48.92 (men): 46.57
SKELETON: 81.6 Men: 48.60 Women: 49.91
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Bobsled
Bobsled was the first sledding sport at the Olympics, making its debut in 1924. Women will compete for the first time in 2002.
THE PUSH
The four-man bobsled team consists of a driver, a brakeman and two pushers. All four push the sled to build momentum. The driver enters first, followed by the pushers and finally the brakeman.
STEERING
The driver steers with ropes attached to the two front runners of the sled.
Luge
Luge made its Olympic debut in 1964. Men and women compete separately in the singles event. There also is doubles luge.
Sliders push off sitting forward and “paddle” on the ice with spiked gloves to gain momentum. Once the run is under way, sledders lie on their backs.
STEERING
To change direction, sliders use their legs to press on flexible levers called kufens. They also apply shoulder pressure on the back of the sled.
Athletes to watch in Salt Lake City
Jim Shea, United States
Shea was the first American to win the Skeleton World Championship in 1999.
Alex Coomber, Britain
She won 70 percent of the World Cup skeleton races in 2000 and 2001.
Jean Racine, United States
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The former luge competitor switched to bobsled in 1996 and became a two-time world champion.
SCHEDULE
Skeleton
At Utah Olympic Park
Feb. 20: Men’s and women’s
Bobsled
At Utah Olympic Park
Two-man
Feb. 16: Men’s runs 1 and 2
Feb. 17: Men’s runs 3 and 4
Two-woman
Feb. 19: All runs
Four-man
Feb. 22: Men’s runs 1 and 2
Feb. 23: Men’s runs 3 and 4
Luge
At Utah Olympic Park
Singles
Feb. 10*: Men’s runs 1 and 2
Feb. 11*: Men’s runs 3 and 4
Feb. 12*: Women’s runs 1 and 2
Feb. 13: Women’s runs 3 and 4
Doubles Feb. 15: All runs
*Completed
Sources: Coach Terry Holland and team leader Robert Vaughn, U.S. skeleton team; Kristan Bromley, Britain skeleton team; USA Luge; U.S. Olympic Committee; International Bobsled and Tobogganing Federation; Utah Olympic Park; United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation; Sports: The Complete Visual Reference; and the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee
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