Skeleton Helmets Are The Coolest Thing At The Olympics

Skeleton, which has only been a regular Winter Olympic event since 2002, is every bit as fast and intense and as scary as luge. Scarier; the sliders go down face-first. But that gives the sport an aesthetic edge over its cohorts. Look at those helmets!

A slider's helmet receives every bit as much thought and detail as does, say, a goalie's mask. Combined with a choice of visor, they run the gamut from futuristic to intimidating to playful to inscrutable. Here now a gallery of some of our favorites, with all photos taken today as the sliders made practice runs on the Sanki track.