Yinka’s published 2026/27 season budget is US$49,610. That is his planned international programme, not a standard fee charged to every skeleton athlete and not the price of a beginner’s first session. Your costs depend on where you live, the tracks you train at, the length of the programme and what support is available.
The season is more than race entry.
An international programme involves coaching and ice access, travel between venues, accommodation, race fees, equipment and recovery. For an athlete travelling from outside the established sliding centres, getting to the track and staying there are substantial parts of the plan. A useful budget records both the sporting costs and the days between races.
Start with a training-block budget.
If you are new, ask the coach or federation for the cost of the specific opportunity in front of you. Confirm what is included: equipment access, coaching, track sessions, accommodation and local transport may be arranged separately. Check travel and insurance requirements before committing. Buying a full set of equipment before you understand the pathway can make the first step more expensive than it needs to be.
Separate confirmed support from hoped-for funding.
Build a plan around support that is actually committed. An in-kind contribution can reduce a particular expense without becoming cash available for everything else. A travel credit, for example, should sit against the cost it can cover. Keep a record of what is paid, what is pledged and what still needs funding.
Development support has conditions.
The IBSF publishes development opportunities with eligibility and entry conditions. Availability varies by season and programme; it is not a guarantee that travel or a whole racing season will be paid for. Ask your national federation what is currently available and which expenses remain yours.
How Yinka is funding the work.
Yinka is building a self-funded season with personal support and digital partnerships. The season fund holds the current budget and giving options. Brands can explore a digital partnership around the training, race-day content and story behind the season. The current offer does not include sled, helmet or suit-logo placement.
If you are considering your first training trip, begin with how to get into skeleton from Africa. If you are considering supporting Yinka, ask about the programme and the work your contribution would help cover.