Skeleton. Sport, which remains almost unknown for many people. And the first impression you may feel? A good idea, after my life would wear. Yes, the practice is that inexperienced people consider it to be suitable for suicide adepts.

Skeleton in English means also “frame”. But this is not associated with life risk, rather it remembers first skeleton shape following human body exactly. One possibility how to explain origin of this word, however, is corruption of Norwegian word "kjaelke", meaning “ice sleigh”.

Skeleton is close to bobsleigh, but the difference is that skeleton moves on runners. Skeleton is featured with low sleigh remembering a thin plate on which the competitor lies on front, head first, running in an ice-slide. On a stuffed plate with holders, located few centimeters above the ice level are fixed, so called runners, enabling travel. We can mention that the Czech republic is famous worldwide as skeleton manufacturers. Main credit takes especially Mr. Jaroslav Lubas, who is considered to be well known designer and manufacturer of skeletons.

To illustrate skeleton sliding: How the sliding looks like? Do not search for tricks, skeleton appertains to actual daredevils, who turn helter-skelter on a thin metal plate thru an ice-slide, head first. Skeleton driving is a demanding matter. Competitor drives it by shoulders, simple head movement, pertinently by means of hobnailed toecaps. Also air resistance has to be considered in the speed of over 100 km/h. If the competitor wishes to shift one’s weight and drive in a curve, turning of head may be sufficient. That is why spectators may have an impression that competitor tosses himself someway.

Bobsleigh and skeleton differ shortly as follows: Bobsleigh is defined as competition of maneuverable double or quadruple sleigh. As a slide serves both natural or artificial bed with icy surface, of maximum 1.5 km length and downslope of 9 – 12°. Competitors run 10 – 15 curves of minimum 20 m diameter. Skeleton is in principle the same: competition on special sleighs on the same runway. In both sports time is measured for particular laps (minimum number of laps is two, maximum four, respectively). Result time is summarization of particular lap times.

As it was said above, skeleton at the first view looks like dangerous sport, but most of competitors insist in opinion, that just sleigh and bobsleigh is much more dangerous, competitor is “deliberated” not before the finish counter-slope. While skeleton is safer, not only because the competitor’s center of gravity is very low (ca. 5 cm above the ice surface level), but also due to fact, that he may turn during the run, if needed, receiving grazes and contusions only. Moreover, “professionals” agree that the first skeleton running is a real top adrenaline impression.