h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There is an english version of this sport, practiced in the SW of England, known as Brian. Though it does differ slightly.
The individual (though can be more than one person) gets into a sleeping bag head first. Then two assistants hold a leg each and on a count of three, heave 'brian' down the stairs. Nylon sleeping bags are best for speed, combined with a 'stiff as a board' posture, so as to glide over the tips of the treads. Polished wooden stairs or marble are definately the best.
You can play skittles (bowling) with a row of human pins standing at the bottom of the stairs - whoever gets hit by brian is the next up.
An interesting varient is using stairs with a 90 or 180 degree turn.
For those who feel they are ready to take the sport to the next level, standing on an upturned ironing board adds a little exitement to the game. This does require a few spare ironing boards as they are prone to snap when reaching the bottom of the stairs.
Brian on.