Skeleton is one of the ice sports that is beginning to gain popularity in Brazil. However, it’s important to remember that the sport has a long history in the country and has been known worldwide since the 19th century. Find out all about skeleton below!
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All about Skeleton: what is it?
Skeleton is the sport of running where competitors glide across a surface;
In this sport, athletes position themselves face down on a sled and race down an ice track, trying to achieve the shortest time possible, which makes the competition extremely fast and intense.
In the past, sledges were used as a means of transportation during snowy periods, especially in northern hemisphere countries where the roads were covered in snow.
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The sleds used for extreme sports are more compact, which may have influenced the name “skeleton”, since:
- They resemble a skeleton;
- They are similar in size to the human body;
- They are designed for a single person.
All about Skeleton: history
Sledding is one of the oldest winter sports;
There are references to it in 16th century literature, but as a form of running, its history dates back to the 19th century, when British tourists began sliding down the snowy roads of the Alps;
In 1882, British and American tourists built the first track in Davos.
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Skeleton racing has its roots in St. Moritz and the famous Cresta Run track. The sport originated in the Swiss town as an exclusive activity for the wealthy;
E. F. Benson described it accurately in 1913: “There is a Mecca, there is a St. Peter’s Cathedral and there is a Crest.”
The men’s skeleton made its first two appearances at the Olympic Games at its birthplace, St. Moritz, in the 1928 and 1948 editions;
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After this period, the sport was put on the back burner until it returned with men’s and women’s competitions at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.
All about Skeleton: how does it work and what are the rules?
In the beginning, the competitions didn’t have many safety measures, which made the sport extremely extreme;
There are now fundamental rules for most competitions, whether regional, national or international. Sled races follow this format:
- Individual competition;
- Participation of 20 athletes;
- Two, three or four descents, depending on the format of the race;
- The winner is the one who achieves the lowest total time.
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During each race, the objective is to determine who will advance to the next stages. The number of athletes who continue in the race is defined by the number of descents;
In competitions with three descents, for example, there are two cut-off points, and the last race has only ten runners.
Scoring is based on the International Federation’s table, which ranks the top 30 athletes of the season. The athlete with the highest number of accumulated points is the winner of the competition.
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Rules
In competitions, the main rules that athletes, known as sliders, must follow are related to factors that can affect their speed. Thus, they need to:
- Maintain continuous contact with the sled;
- Lie down on the sled after the first timed point;
- Ensure that the combined weight of the athlete and the sled does not exceed the established limit.
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All about Skeleton: equipment, terms and tracks
Equipment
The Skeleton rules specify in detail the materials and dimensions of the sled, as well as the permitted accessories for the sliders;
This reduces the risk of serious injury while maintaining running speed.
Toboggan The toboggan is usually made of steel and covered in fiberglass. It has two steel blades that come into contact with the ground during the descent, as well as two handles that help with momentum. It has no braking system, as speed is the priority.
Sliders can use common sports safety equipment such as helmets, gloves and elbow pads;
To prevent slipping and help the sled brake, a shoe with 250 small nails is used.
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Skeleton glossary
- Heat: refers to each of the runs made by the athlete in a competition. In the Olympic and World Games, there are four downhills.
- Line: designates the athlete’s “ideal trajectory” on the track, with the route considered perfect for maximizing speed and preventing the sled from tipping over.
- Toboggan: alternative term used to refer to the skeleton’s sled.
- Slider: is the term used to designate each competitor in the sport of skeleton.
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Track
The track must be between 1,200 and 1,650 meters long, with protected curves to ensure the safety of the rider and the sled;
These standards must be followed when building an artificial runway:
- After the finish line, there should be no bends;
- Straight sections of track must have a maximum width of 140 cm;
- 1200 meters of the track must have a continuous slope.
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All about Skeleton: in Brazil
In Brazil, the sport of sprinting has become more popular in recent years. However, its history goes back more than two hundred years, originally arising from a need for greater agility.
Brazil began its Skeleton journey shortly after the creation of the Brazilian Bobsled, Skeleton and Luge Association (ABBSL), which was the forerunner of the CBDG, in 1996;
Leandro Fracasso, one of the pioneers of Bobsled in Brazil, was the first Brazilian athlete to train in the Skeleton in 1999, although he didn’t take part in official competitions.
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Emílio Strapasson, in 2003, was crucial in putting Brazil on the international Skeleton scene, with appearances in the America’s Cup;
He came close to qualifying for the Olympics in 2006 and 2010, but failed to achieve the necessary index.
After restructuring with a new board of directors in 2013, the CBDG resumed its investment in Skeleton, with athletes participating in the America’s Cup, the World Cup and the Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2016;
For the next Olympic cycle, Brazil plans to form its first adult women’s team in order to win an unprecedented place at the Winter Games.
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Brazil’s achievements in skeleton
1999– Start of Leandro Fracasso’s training activities, the first Brazilian to dedicate himself to Skeleton.
2003 – Brazil makes its Skeleton debut, with Emílio Strapasson competing in the America’s Cup races.
2011 – Brazil takes part in the Skeleton World Cup for the first time, with Emílio Strapasson finishing 30th in the men’s category.
2013– After an administrative crisis, Brazil has resumed its participation in sport, with three male athletes competing in the Copa América.
2015 – Brazil returns to the Skeleton World Cup, with Gustavo Henke taking 33rd place in the men’s competition.
2016 – Brazil will be present at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, with Robert Barbosa and Laura Nascimento representing the country.
2018– The CBDG forms its first adult women’s skeleton team, made up of Marina Tuono and Nicole Silveira.
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All about Skeleton: outstanding athletes
The athletes Emílio Strapasson and Gustavo Henke are outstanding examples of Brazil in Skeleton. Both competed for a world title and finished in 30th position. In the international context, the following stand out:
- Elizabeth Yarnold, who won the gold medal on two occasions;
- Christopher Grotheer, current men’s world champion;
- Hannah Neise, current women’s world champion.
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