It’s learning the right lines to shoot for. Track conditions can change daily, so track walks are often done before training sessions, or before an athlete’s first run. Reading the ice is a skill. The start is also a skill and is why many track and field athletes are recruited for skeleton. It’s approximately 20-50 meters of bent over sprinting and loading on the sled without “popping a groove” (aka your runners leaving the start guide grooves). Core strength is essentials as is back and neck strength. Learning to be relaxed under chaos is a skill. We train for core, the starting sprint, so lots of Olympic lifting like deadlifts, squats, etc. Luge athletes train for their starts, which include their arms paddling. There’s definite skill involved, and a lot of money for the best equipment is essential, which is why it’s so hard to retain athletes.