The Skeleton Run

The Skeleton Run is a winter sliding race series built around skeleton: athletes launch themselves headfirst on small metal sleds and race down iced tracks at speeds that can reach 140 km/h. The rider lies only a few centimeters above the ice, so the sport asks for nerve, precise steering, and a clean start. Skeleton grew out of Swiss toboggan racing, when winter sports enthusiasts began racing down icy slopes on sleds inspired by transport sleds from Canada and India, with links also traced to Norwegian sled designs. The early sport centered on tracks such as the Davos-to-Klosters route in Switzerland, where a straight slide was later given curves to make the racing harder. The name may come from the bare metal look of an early sled, or from an English version of the Norwegian word "Kjaelke." Modern skeleton spread through IBSF racing, Olympic competition, training schools, and circuits such as the World Cup, Europa Cup, North American Cup, and Intercontinental Cup. Competitors now come from around 30 countries across six continents, with newer nations investing in the sport alongside established winter-sport teams.