Winter Olympics 2018: Colourful helmets of skeleton riders feature bears, eagles and even Iron Man

THE skeleton sees riders hurtle down ice face-first at speeds of more than 80mph.

It’s a terror-inducing watch as riders are protected by no more than a helmet as they lay on what is – essentially – a fancy tea tray.

EPA

Skeleton riders feature brilliant custom designs on their helmets – South Korea’s Yun Sungbin has Iron Man[/caption]

With the riders showing little of their faces to the watching millions, the only chance they get to show something of their personality is on their helmets.

And some of the riders go all out.

Sadly Team GB riders feature a boring blue  while other nations have allowed their riders to do whatever they want – with Team Canada the clear winners.

Here are the best helmets from the men and women’s skeleton.

AP:Associated Press

Akwasi Frimpong of Ghana has a roaring lion[/caption]

EPA

A close-up of Frimpong’s brilliant helmet[/caption]

Reuters

Barrett Martineau of Canada has a ferocious looking polar bear[/caption]

EPA

Another Canadian, Dave Greszczyszyn, has a bear – but this time it’s a grizzly[/caption]

AFP

Team Canada clearly have the most fun with their helmets, Elisabeth Vathje showing some tartan and the Canadian Maple Leaf[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Mirela Rahneva shows off another famous Canadian – the moose – with a dream-like colour sequence[/caption]

AFP or licensors

Jane Channell takes the name of the sport and displays it on her helmet, showing a rib cage[/caption]

EPA

The Canadian riders clearly have the most flair in skeleton, with Kevin Boyer showing off a Mayan-looking face[/caption]

Reuters

Japanese rider Hiroatsu Takahashi’s helmet has a colourful design featuring stars[/caption]

Reuters

Joseph Luke Cecchini of Italy has a demonic (and apt) skeleton[/caption]

EPA

Norway’s Alexander Henning Hanssen has a patriotic mural of his nation’s flag[/caption]

Reuters

Rhys Thornbury of New Zeland has a black helmet that features the Southern Cross constellation of stars and the silver fern – both symbols of the country[/caption]

Reuters

American star John Daley has a pearlescent helmet that changes colour when he moves his head[/caption]

EPA

Australia’s John Farrow also evokes his nation’s flag, with the five stars of the Southern Cross[/caption]

AFP

Austria’s Janine Flock has a two-tone matte and metallic black on her helmet[/caption]

AFP

Katie Uhlaender could only be from the US as she shows off a soaring bald eagle with the stripes from the American flag[/caption]

AFP or licensors

Swiss rider Marina Gilardoni has a smart, smokey theme on her helmet[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Maria Marinela Mazilu of Romania has a hugely colourful helmet that appears to show a woman[/caption]

AFP or licensors

The front of her helmet features vampire teeth – an obvious reference to Romania’s Transylvania[/caption]

EPA

Australian Jackie Narracott also has the stars of the Southern Cross on her green and gold helmet[/caption]

AFP or licensors

Kim Mylemans has a sparkly iteration of the Belgian tricolour[/caption]

Reuters

Unfortunately for fans of Team GB, Lizzy Yarnold and Co had boring plain blue helmets[/caption]