Other aspects of ski racing contribute to its tenacious hold on participants and, sometimes, spectators. One is location: the mountains.  Alpine ski racing is a gravity sport, meaning there has to be a net drop in elevation.  The courses themselves may or may not feature striking terrain.  Certainly the actual courses and race arenas of some of the great classic races (the Lauberhorn, the Hahenkamm, Adelboden, and Cortina, for example) are themselves striking and dramatic.  But the icing on the cake is the surrounding scenery, the great peaks of the Alps and Dolomites.  And, closer to home, the striking mountains that are visible on all sides at Alyeska.   The mountains were what attracted the first alpine skiers, including the indomitable sporting Brits who were innovators and pioneers in the earliest alpine ski racing events.   

These are the Dolomites, rock cathedrals in the Val Gardena/Ortisei area.  The Sella Ronda is the massive rampart.  You can ski completely around it by taking about 15 lifts and six hours.  Val Gardena is home to one of the great downhills and nearby Alta Badia is home to one of the classic giant slaloms, the  Gran Risa.

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Val d'Isere, home of great French racing.  The tiny dots are skiers.

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Mountains surround the Soelden GS course.

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From St. Christoph, you can see down valley toward St. Anton.

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These are among the exotic World Cup venues.  The surroundings inspire.