No bones about it, skeleton is a lot scarier than the kind of sledding kids are used to. Dating back to the late 1800s, it's thought to be the first and oldest sliding sport. Skeleton got its name in 1892 when a new sled was unveiled. This sled was a rack of metal that looked like a skeleton to some people and the name stuck.

The Rules of the Game
How does skeleton work? Lay belly-down on your sled facing down the course. Then slide down the course as fast as you can until you reach the finish line. The fastest time wins. There are men's and women's competitions. A sledder's gear includes a skeleton sled, a helmet, spiked shoes to grip the ice and a suit for warmth.

By Terrence Cheromcka