# Olympics "Skeleton"??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 14, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926 "2010-02-14T03:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/1 "2010-02-14T03:52:21Z")
Did I hear correctly that there is some ice sport called “Skeleton”? I swore they said it was one of the ice [track] sports like luge and bobsled. But, what is it? I cannot recall ever hearing of it prior to this Winter Olympics. Can someone explain? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/2 "2010-02-14T03:56:32Z")
> **[Skeleton (sport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29)** > > Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or -sleigh), down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first. The sport and the sled may have been named from the bony appearance of the sled. > Unlike other sliding sports of bobsleigh and luge, the race always involves single riders. Like bobsleigh, but unlike luge, the race begins with a running start from the opening gate at the top of the course. The skeleton sled is thinner and heav... ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/3 "2010-02-14T03:57:03Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29) is your friend. It’s basically the Luge head first instead of feet first. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/4 "2010-02-14T03:57:36Z")
Same as the luge but you go headfirst.:eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/5 "2010-02-14T04:15:34Z")
When did they start this? Is it relatively new? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/6 "2010-02-14T04:16:31Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > [Skeleton (sport) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29) > **[Skeleton (sport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29)** > > Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or bobsleigh), down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first. The sport and the sled may have been named for the sled's resemblance to a ribcage. > Unlike other sliding sports of bobsleigh and luge, the race always involves single riders. Like bobsleigh, but unlike luge, the race begins with a running start from the opening gate at the top of the course. The skeleton sled is thinner and... ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/7 "2010-02-14T04:30:41Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > When did they start this? Is it relatively new? [Point Mouse Here, Click Left Button.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/8 "2010-02-14T04:54:14Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > When did they start this? Is it relatively new? It became an official sport again in 2002. So this is the third olympics since 1948. Fifth olympics overall. So, it’s “relatively new,” depending on your definition of “relative.” ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/9 "2010-02-14T04:58:36Z")
Also from Wikipedia, the first year it was recognized as an Olympic sport by the IOC was 1926. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/10 "2010-02-14T05:01:34Z")
I remember it getting quite a bit of hype in 2002, what with it being head-first luge and all. Pretty sexy in that “extreme sport” sort of way. If you follow the Winter Olympics at all, it’s not something you’d miss, I’d think. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/11 "2010-02-14T13:13:30Z")
The other difference is Luge is done on your back, Skeleton is on your stomach. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/12 "2010-02-14T14:31:18Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The other difference is Luge is done on your back, Skeleton is on your stomach. Flip those positions around and then we’d be talking real excitement! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/13 "2010-02-14T17:51:20Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > [Skeleton (sport) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29) I think you mean **[Skeleton (sport) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_%28sport%29)**, don’t you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/14 "2010-02-14T19:14:03Z")
I’m amazed there’s no wikipedia entry with all this information. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/15 "2010-02-14T20:51:31Z")
**Jinx** has been ignoring Wikipedia for most of the 10+ years he’s been a member here. 😛 I agree with **RedFury** about which way each should be run. Take skeleton’s head-first position, put you on your back to do it, and THEN let’s talk about excitement!!! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/16 "2010-02-14T22:55:56Z")
I can’t wait for when they do it in a hamster ball. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/17 "2010-02-14T23:18:52Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I can’t wait for when they do it in a hamster ball. Like the scene out of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/18 "2010-02-14T23:49:47Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I agree with **RedFury** about which way each should be run. Take skeleton’s head-first position, put you on your back to do it, and THEN let’s talk about excitement!!! I did something similar once as a kid on accident. It would take more than a hunk of gold and a Wheaties endorsment to do it again. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/19 "2010-02-20T00:12:53Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The other difference is Luge is done on your back, Skeleton is on your stomach. At the porn Olympics I understand they do a combined form of the two both coed and same sex. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926/20 "2010-02-20T00:36:04Z")
Asked this in another thread but no answer: Is the Skeleton done on the same track as luge and bobsled? Are starts at different places? Because if luge killed a guy on his back, then I can see a lot of necks broken doing it head first [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympics-skeleton/528926.md?page=2)