Skeleton is a winter sport in which competitors aim to drive a one-person sled in a prone, head-first position down an ice track in the fastest time. A winter sport is a Sport commonly played during Winter. As a formal term it refers to a sport played on Snow or Ice, but informally can refer A sled, sledge or sleigh is a Vehicle with runners for sliding instead of wheels for rolling This differs from luge, where the rider drives the sled from a supine, feet-first orientation. A luge is a small one- or two-person Sled on which one sleds supine (face up and feet-first Top speeds attained in skeleton—approximately 130 km/h (80 mph)—are slightly slower than in luge. (For the South African airport with IATA code "KMH" see Johan Pienaar Airport. One of the oldest competitive sledding sports in the world, this Olympic sport is known in some parts of the world as tobogganing. The Olympic sports comprise all the Sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. A toboggan is a simple Sled used on snow to carry one or more people (often children down a hill or other slope for recreation It takes its name from the stripped-down sled, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton. There is also a theory about the name that it is a mispronunciation of the Norwegian word kjelke ("sled", "luge"). Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language
Skeleton originated as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Cresta Run is a natural ice 12125 m (3978 ft over three-quarter mile long skeleton racing sled run or track in the Swiss Winter sports town of St Moritz ( German: Sankt Moritz, Romansh: San Murezzan) is an exclusive resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland While Skeleton "sliders" use similar equipment to Cresta "riders", the two sports are different and should not be confused (See below).
| Skeleton | Cresta Sledding |
|---|---|
| Shares track with bobsleighers and lugers | Run on cresta sledding tracks only |
| No steering/braking mechanisms allowed | Skates on feet help steer/brake the sled |
Contents |
History
The sport of skeleton can be traced back to the British of the late 19th century. English soldiers in Switzerland constructed a toboggan track between the cities of Davos and Klosters in 1882. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation While toboggan tracks certainly were not uncommon at the time, the added challenge of curves and bends in the Swiss track distinguished it from those of Canada and the United States. [1]
Approximately 30 km away in the winter sports town of St. Moritz, British gentlemen had long enjoyed racing one another down the busy, winding streets of the town, causing an uproar among citizens as to the danger posed to pedestrians and visiting tourists. In 1884, Major Bulpetts, with the backing of winter sports pioneer and Kulm hotel owner Caspar Badrutt, constructed Cresta Run, the first sledding track of its kind in St. Swissman Caspar Badrutt (1848-1904 may have near singlehandedly invented the way we we now look at winter activities &mdash a time for fun and frolic on the picturesque but cold slopes The Cresta Run is a natural ice 12125 m (3978 ft over three-quarter mile long skeleton racing sled run or track in the Swiss Winter sports town of Moritz. [2] The track ran three-quarters of a mile from St. Moritz to Celerina and contained 10 turns still used today. When the Winter Olympic Games were held at St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948, the Cresta Run was included in the program, marking the only two times skeleton was included as an Olympic event before its permanent addition in 2002 to the Olympic Winter Games. [3]
In the 1887 Grand National competition in St. Moritz, Mr. Cornish introduced the now traditional head-first position, a trend that was in full force by the 1890 Grand National. [3][4] Until 1905, skeleton was practiced mainly in Switzerland; however, in 1905, Styria held its first skeleton competition in Muerzzuschlag. Mürzzuschlag is a town in Styria, Austria, with a population of 9569 (2001 This opened the door to other national skeleton competitions including the Austrian championship held the following year. In 1908 and 1910, skeleton competitions were held in the Viennese Semmering Mountain. [1]
As the popularity of the sport grew in Europe, skeleton evolved into the sport recognized today. In 1892, the sled was transformed by L. P. Child, an Englishman. The newly designed bare-bones sled resembled a human skeleton, and the sport adopted its modern name of skeleton, though it is still recognized as tobboganing in many countries. [1]
In 1923, the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT) was established as the governing body of the sport. The Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT or International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation is the main international federation for all Soon afterward (1926), the International Olympic Committee declared bobsleigh and skeleton as Olympic sports and adopted the rules of the St. Mortiz run as the officially recognized Olympic rules. [1] It was not until 2002, however, that skeleton itself was added permanently to the Olympic program with the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Popularity in the sport has grown since the 2002 Winter Olympics and now includes participation by smaller countries that do not have or cannot have a track because of climate, terrain or monetary limitations. Athletes from such countries as Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, South Africa, Argentina, Iraq, Mexico, Brazil and even the Virgin Islands have become involved with the sport in recent years. However, the FIBT narrows the field greatly and only a few dozen countries compete in the Olympic Games.
For a summary of these and other important dates in the history of skeleton, see the timeline below.
The Sport
The accessibility of skeleton to amateurs may have been the catalyst for its upswing in popularity. Most notably, Nino Bibbia, a modest fruit and vegetable merchant from St. Moritz, took Olympic gold at the 1948 event. [2] With the advent of the first artificially refrigerated track in 1969 at Königssee/Berchtesgaden, Germany, athletes are currently able to practice the sport regardless of weather conditions. [1] Modern day Nino Bibbias such as Kevin Ellis, an accountant from Dallas, Texas, who have secured positions on their national Olympic teams continue to propagate the sport forward into the spotlight. [5]
Skeleton is a fast-moving sliding sport during which athletes experience forces up to, but not exceeding, 5Gs, a stipulation enforced by the FIBT. Given the speeds attained by sliders (up to 130 km/h (80 mph)), they are not allowed any steering or braking mechanisms. Rather, steering is managed by slight shifts of the athlete on the sled and by dragging the feet. [1][6]
The sport is also promoted by skeleton officials as a gateway sport to, “train young, aspiring athletes…for their future career in bobsleigh. ”[1]
The major competitions of non-Olympic seasons include the World Championships and World Cups, held annually. The rankings and results from these competitions determine the starting positions for future races. [1] The track becomes less smooth after each successive run; thus, the negative effect on run times makes earlier starts in the lineup more desirable. Based on the overall performance of a country, the FIBT determines which countries may participate in the Olympic games. For the male competition, the best 12 nations based on World Cup rankings may participate, whereas for ladies, the best 8 may do so. [7]
Olympic rules
- Skeleton must use the same track as bobsleigh and luge, at least 1200 m (1312 yards) long
- A run begins with a running "push" phase (typically 25 to 40 metres)
- After pushing, the athlete dives onto the sled and descends the track
- Athletes must lie prone, facing downhill, with arms at their sides
- Only the force produced by the athlete and the force of gravity are permitted to propel the skeleton
- The skeleton must be steered by movements of the athlete's body
The Track
For more information about the tracks used, please see List of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks. In the world there are a total of sixteen bobsleigh luge and skeleton tracks in use for competitions in Bobsleigh, Luge, and skeleton.
Skeleton shares the same tracks as the sports of bobsleigh and luge. Bobsleigh, bobsled or bobsledge is a Winter sport invented by Englishmen in the late 1860s in which teams make timed runs down narrow twisting banked A luge is a small one- or two-person Sled on which one sleds supine (face up and feet-first Most races take place on man-made ice surfaces, though some natural ice tracks, such as St. Moritz, are still used. The tracks run from 1200 – 1650 m, 1200 m of which are downhill. The final 100 – 150 m may contain uphill stretches that are no greater than 12% gradient and may contain bends. [7] Most tracks contain a combination of 15 bends, though the famous Cresta Run follows its original course and contains only 10. [3]
“Like the other sliding sports of bobsleigh and luge, the start is crucial in skeleton – where a tenth of a second lead at the start can become three-tenths of a second by the bottom of the run – so these athletes train much like sprinters to develop the powerful legs they need to explode onto the track. But speed is not the only factor: they must also find the best line and steer smoothly through each turn to keep their speed high. [8]”
The starting area is composed of a 15 m push-off stretch followed by a straight 60 m stretch during which the athlete typically reach speeds up to 35 km/h. [7] The British Bob Skeleton Association defines the initial 20-30 m of track as a sprint area before the slider dives onto his sled. Push-off grips are also installed along the sides of the track to assist athletes in obtaining max starting speeds. [7]
The “First Stretch” of the track is defined as the first 2/3 of the track. It traditionally contains the most demanding elements of the track with regard to the driving technique required of the athlete. The route following the first 250 m of track is designed to allow the athlete to reach maximum speed – anywhere from 80 – 100 km/h. [7] The track following time-keeping (the finish line) remains straight, allowing athletes to safely slow their sleds. [7]
The Sled
“The ‘toboggans’ used in Alpine countries at the end of the 19th century were inspired by Canadian/Indian sleds used for transport. ”[1] Various additions and redesigning efforts by athletes have led to the skeleton sleds used today. In 1892, L. P. Child introduced the “America,” a new metal sled that revolutionized skeleton as a sport. The stripped-down design provided a compact sled with metal runners, and the design caught on quickly. In 1902, Arden Bott added a sliding seat to help athletes shift their weight forward and backward, a feature that is no longer included on modern sleds.
Today, the FIBT restricts the materials with which skeleton sleds are permitted to be made. Sled frames must be made of steel and may not include steering or braking mechanisms. The base plate, however, may be made of plastics. The handles and bumpers found along the sides of the sled help secure the athlete during a run. [7]
Further specifications are included in FIBT ruling regarding sled dimensions[1][7]:
| Combined weight (athlete + sled) | Sled | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 115 kg | 43 kg |
| Women | 92 kg | 35 kg |
Some athletes opt to attach ballasts to their sled if the combined weight of athlete and sled runs below the maximum combined weight. However, these ballasts may only be added to the sled, not the rider.
Dimensions:
Length: 800-1200mm
Height: 80-200mm
Distance Between Runners: 340-380mm
Equipment worn by athletes
- alpine racing helmet with chinguard, or a skeleton specific helmet
- skin-tight racing speedsuit
- spiked shoes, similar to track spikes
- goggles or face shields
- optional elbow and shoulder pads under their suits
Organizations
Alberta Skeleton Association[1]
Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada home of the 1988 Winter Olympics. A speedsuit is an item of Unisex exercise attire It consists of a single piece of clothing which tightly fits the torso and optionally varying amounts of the arms and legs Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates water or chemicals from Offers racing and tuition. Has produced international-level athletes.
Bavarian Skeleton Club
Established in 1969 in Munich, Germany and headed by Senator Hans Riedmayer and Max Probst (himself a skeleton bob engineer), the club was important in organizing some of the first national and international skeleton events in Konigsee, Tirol, and Czechoslovakia. Königsee is a town in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany. Tyrol is a region in Western Central Europe, which included the present day Austrian state of Tyrol (consisting of North Tyrol and East Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [2]
British Bob Skeleton Association[2]
The Official British Bob Skeleton organization whose members include both athletes and fans alike. Their website includes volumes of information regarding the sport, history, events, photographs, among other news and updates on athletes and the sport.
Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing [3] (FIBT)
Established in 1923, the FIBT is the official governing body for the sport.
St. Moritz Tobogganing Club
A private club founded in 1887 by Major Bulpetts of St. Moritz. Membership is selective from applicants on their “Supplementary List. ” St. Moritz is the birthplace of the sport.
Timeline
1882 – English soldiers in Switzerland construct first challenge sledding course
1884 – Brits raced recreationally from St. Moritz to Celerina in Switzerland
1887 – Cresta Run constructed Head-first riding position introduced at Switzerland’s Grand National competition
1892 – L. P. Child introduces the “America”
1902 – Sliding seat added to new sled design, later dropped
1905 – Styria holds first skeleton competition in Muerzzuschlag
1906 – Austrian Championship
1923 – The Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT) is established
1926 – International Olympic Committee officially declares skeleton as an Olympic sport
1928 – Jennison Heaton wins first Olympic gold in Skeleton
1948 – Nino Bibbia wins Olympic gold in skeleton’s 2nd winter games appearance
1969 – 1st artificially refrigerated track built in West Germany Bavarian Skeleton Club established in Munich
1974 – Officially recognized by Deutsche Bob und Schlittensport Verband (German Bobsleigh and Luge Organisation)
1986 – FIBT begins funding skeleton
1989 - Skeleton is included officially in the FIBT World Championships
1998 – Skeleton World Championship aired live on Eurosport for the first time
1999 – Skeleton included in Olympic Games program, scheduled to debut in 2002 Winter Games
2000 - Women's skeleton debuts at the FIBT World Championships
2002 – First permanent Olympic skeleton competition held in Salt Lake City, Utah
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Toboganning (html). Jennison Heaton ( April 16, 1904 &ndash August 6, 1971) was an American Bobsled and skeleton racer who Nino Bibbia (born March 15, 1922) was an Italian skeleton racer and Bobsledder who competed in the late 1940s Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. The FIBT World Championships 1989 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy ( Bobsleigh) and St The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation in The FIBT World Championships 2000 took place in Altenberg Germany (men's Bobsleigh) Winterberg, Germany (women's bobsleigh and Igls, Bobsleigh, bobsled or bobsledge is a Winter sport invented by Englishmen in the late 1860s in which teams make timed runs down narrow twisting banked The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation in The Skeleton World Cup season is a yearly competition first organized by the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation since 1986-87 A luge is a small one- or two-person Sled on which one sleds supine (face up and feet-first Retrieved on 2007-07-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls,
- ^ a b c British Bob Skeleton Association (html). Retrieved on 2007-07-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls,
- ^ a b c St. Moritz Tobogganing Club (html). Retrieved on 2007-07-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls,
- ^ < "skeleton sledding". Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2007). Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- ^ "Dallas Skeleton Crew Eyes Olympics - The Dallas Morning News" (html). Retrieved on 2007-07-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold
- ^ "SKELETON, in winter sports". The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2004). Columbia University Press.
- ^ a b c d e f g h [2005] FIBT International Skeleton Rules (Word Document). Retrieved on 2007-07-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold
- ^ Skeleton (html). Retrieved on 2007-07-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold
External links
- Skeleton Italia official site
- Torino 2006 Skeleton rules
- Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Toboganning (FIBT) World governing body.
- UBSBF Governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the USA.
- Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton Governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in Canada.
- Alberta Skeleton Association The Provincial governing body for the sport of Skeleton in Alberta.
- British Bob Skeleton Association British governing body for bob skeleton.
- NewSliders.com Introductory site about the sport, from a participant.
- SliderGuide.com A slider community site with a satirical news take on the sport.
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