What are track safety features in Skeleton?

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Chin-guard helmet: Mandatory for all runs (training and competition). Must provide face and chin protection since the athlete’s head is the leading body part, centimeters from the ice surface.
Speed suit: Provides some abrasion protection in case of a crash or sled ejection
Spike shoes: Must be worn; provide traction during the start push and braking control during the finish deceleration
No additional body armor or padding is standard in skeleton (unlike bobsled pilots who may wear additional protection)

Track walls padded with foam at high-impact zones (tight curves, S-bends, and areas where ejections are most likely)
Netting or catch fences installed above walls at curves where athletes have historically left the track
Ice surface inspected and maintained by track crews between every 5–10 athletes; cracks, debris, and uneven surfaces repaired
Speed monitoring at multiple points along the track; if speeds exceed design parameters, the start gate may be lowered (moving the start further down the in-run)

Medical team stationed at the finish area with ambulance and emergency equipment
Track marshals at every curve with radio communication to race control and medical team
Crash protocol: if an athlete crashes, competition is immediately halted until the athlete is cleared or evacuated, the sled is recovered, and the track is inspected and repaired
Concussion protocol: any athlete involved in a crash is assessed for concussion before being allowed to take subsequent runs
Nearest hospital and helicopter evacuation route identified in the competition safety plan

New athletes must complete a progression program starting from lower start positions before being permitted to use the full-length start
Minimum training runs on the specific competition track are required before racing (typically 3–6 runs); this requirement accounts for each track’s unique curve profiles and speeds
Track orientation sessions conducted by experienced pilots or IBSF officials for athletes new to a particular track
Maximum speed limits may be enforced during training sessions for novice athletes

Chin-guard helmet: Mandatory for all runs (training and competition). Must provide face and chin protection since the athlete’s head is the leading body part, centimeters from the ice surface.
Speed suit: Provides some abrasion protection in case of a crash or sled ejection
Spike shoes: Must be worn; provide traction during the start push and braking control during the finish deceleration
No additional body armor or padding is standard in skeleton (unlike bobsled pilots who may wear additional protection)

Track walls padded with foam at high-impact zones (tight curves, S-bends, and areas where ejections are most likely)
Netting or catch fences installed above walls at curves where athletes have historically left the track
Ice surface inspected and maintained by track crews between every 5–10 athletes; cracks, debris, and uneven surfaces repaired
Speed monitoring at multiple points along the track; if speeds exceed design parameters, the start gate may be lowered (moving the start further down the in-run)

Medical team stationed at the finish area with ambulance and emergency equipment
Track marshals at every curve with radio communication to race control and medical team
Crash protocol: if an athlete crashes, competition is immediately halted until the athlete is cleared or evacuated, the sled is recovered, and the track is inspected and repaired
Concussion protocol: any athlete involved in a crash is assessed for concussion before being allowed to take subsequent runs
Nearest hospital and helicopter evacuation route identified in the competition safety plan

New athletes must complete a progression program starting from lower start positions before being permitted to use the full-length start
Minimum training runs on the specific competition track are required before racing (typically 3–6 runs); this requirement accounts for each track’s unique curve profiles and speeds
Track orientation sessions conducted by experienced pilots or IBSF officials for athletes new to a particular track
Maximum speed limits may be enforced during training sessions for novice athletes