These Trippy Helmets Might Actually Make You Watch Olympic Skeleton

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By Sam Laird2014-01-07 03:46:45 UTC

Skeleton: You've probably never heard of it. And, after next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi, you probably won't again for another four years.

But the obscure, luge-like sport will be worth tuning into for at least four reasons this winter—the helmets worn by the members of Canada's skeleton team.

See also: This Mom Is the Most Inspiring Olympic Hopeful You've Never Heard Of

If you aren't familiar with skeleton, it's a sport in which individual competitors lay face down on a smell sled then try to navigate an icy track as fast as possible. Head-first. Needless to say, helmets are rather important here.

So how did Team Canada skeletoners settle on such cool designs? The Canadian Olympic Team's official site has a full rundown. But we think Eric Neilsen — who wears that spooky, fiery-eyed number — gives the best background.

"The story behind mine was pretty much that I wanted a very 'bad ass' helmet," he says. "I know you can’t put that in a write up, but that’s what I wanted. It’s pretty much a 'Demon Head' helmet that is on fire and is breathing fire out of the mouth that are skulls."

Word, Eric. Word.

Here's a full look at Team Canada's trippy helmets:

1. Sarah Reid's helmet features a Day of the Dead-inspired design.

IMAGE: GENE SWEENEY JR/GETTY IMAGES

2. Eric Neilson's is a little spookier.

IMAGE: TODD KOROL/GETTY IMAGES

3. John Fairbairn's helmet provides a pseudo-window into his brain.

IMAGE: TODD KOROL/GETTY IMAGES

4. A horse skeleton rides high on Mellisa Hollingsworth's helmet.

IMAGE: RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES

5. Neilson says he wanted a "bad-ass" helmet.

IMAGE: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

6. Reid went for something "feminine, but still kind of scary and deadly looking."

IMAGE: TODD KOROL/GETTY IMAGES

7. Hollingsworth's helmet was painted by Voodoo Airbrushing in Ontario.

IMAGE: RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES

8. You must watch Olympic skeleton now, or Sarah Reid's helmet will haunt your dreams forever.

IMAGE: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Homepage image: Todd Korol/Getty Images

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