As a kid I've spent a lot of time on the mountain side and I have seen few of the racers up close- not even the cream of the crop. You can only really compare them to the football receivers or the rugby players. It takes an incredible strength to control the skis at over 100km/h, dealing with the gforces on the joints and muscles while being flexible enough to thread the needle, often on ice, down heart stopping slopes. And the injuries they suffer!! It takes a huge set of brass balls to go for broke down hill. Can't really appreciate it on tv, but going down yourself down the course, even at a low speed, is quite an experience.