Sport Information
Discover all about bobsled and skeleton, with detailed explanations of each event, the equipment required and the techniques used.
INTERACTIVE BOBSLED
INTERACTIVE SKELETON
link courtesy of the IOC
Governing Bodies
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Why should I go to the Olympic Sports Complex to watch the Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup races?
Come out and experience the exciting sports of bobsled and skeleton in person and support our world class athletes as they choose the fastest trajectory into the curves and down the tracks at speeds over 70 miles per hour! See why Lake Placid is considered the Winter Sports Capital and why Whiteface Lake Placid is continuously rated number one year after year by Ski Magazine for off-hill activities!
2. What's the difference between bobsled, skeleton and luge?
Bobsledding, skeleton and luge are sports of skill, strength, and speed practiced by both men and women. These high-speed sliding sports are done on carefully designed mile-long ice tracks around the world and are the fastest Olympic sports.
Two- and four-man bobsled teams fly down a mile-long track in an aerodynamic sled. Each bobsled team has a pilot and a brakeman. Four-man teams also have two crewmen. To steer, the driver holds ropes connected to polished steel runners. Most drivers wear gloves; some steer bare-handed to have a better feel for the ropes. Crew members shift weight to help the driver steer
Skeleton, like most luging, is a one-person sport practiced by both men and women. Unlike luging, which involves a feet first position for the rider, the skeleton rider drives the sled from a head first position. Sleds are roughly rectangular in shape, with carrying handles on the side and two rounded parallel runners on the bottom. The rider generally rides in such a way that their head juts off the front and their legs dangle off the back. There is no steering mechanism on a Skeleton sled. A rider can steer by shifting weight, leaning with shoulders and legs. Tapping one or both toes changes direction, as well. In some cases a rider will drag both toes for a short distance, but as this reduces speed, it is avoided by good racers.
3. How fast do they go?
Two- and four-man bobsled teams fly down the track at speeds of as much as 90 mph. Traveling face first down the ice track, skeleton sleds reach 75 to 80 miles an hour. Bobsled and skeleton races are timed to the nearest one-hundredth of a second and the sleds with the fastest combined time after two heats wins the gold.
4. What is the best place to watch the race?
There are several good places to watch the races. Before each sled enters the track, the country, driver and brakeman is announced over a loudspeaker that can be heard from any part of the track. When the sled is in the track, the loudspeaker announces the sleds time and position in every curve. The best thing to do when you arrive is pick up a map at the ticket booth and begin walking up the footpath along the track. Definitely make stops at Curve 10, the Start, and the Finish Line.
Curve 10, "Shady," is one of the most difficult and exciting curves on the track. This is a good place to get an up-close and personal view of a bobsled or skeleton sled taking a turn at top-speed.
The Start can be one of the most exciting parts of the race. The two- or four-man crews push-start the sled with a quick and furious sprint before they all jump into the sled. Each heat of a skeleton race begins with the rider pushing his sled as fast as possible before jumping on top. The short, hard sprint that begins both races is one of the key factors in the sled's time and is an exciting part of the race to watch. To get to the Start, follow the footpath along the track until you reach the top.
The Finish Line is one of the best places in Lake Placid to watch the second heat of the races. Here you can watch the athletes come through the finish line and clock their final time.
5. How can I try bobsled and skeleton?
The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) has programs for all ages and interests. With tracks in Lake Placid, NY and Park City, Utah, the USBSF offers a wide range of programs including national team tryouts, junior programs, and public passenger rides. Contact USBSF for more information. http://www.usbsf.com
The Olympic Sports Complex offers passenger Bobsled Rides on the same track that the athletes are competing on. Start at the half-mile and ride with a professional driver and brakeman through the world-famous Shady, Labyrinth, and The Heart. Each sled in THE STORM ride program has been custom-built for a safe, comfortable, exhilarating ride of a lifetime. Each ride passenger will receive a complimentary bobsled lapel pin to commemorate their adventure. This is a great place to get a taste of what a world class athlete experiences. You can also ride in our Luge Rocket Sled. This solo self steering sled will truly let you see things from the athletes point of view.
