Ski, snow and some schnapps in Austria’s Kitzbueheler Alps

Alan Shortt quickly finds his feet in Austria’s Kitzbueheler Alps and discovers zooming down the slopes, arms outstretched, is the closest a man can get to flying without wings.

I AM STANDING at over 6,000ft above sea level, looking out over the magnificent snow-capped Kitzbueheler Alps in Austria, the icy clear air cuts through my sinuses allowing both nostrils to flare like a bull getting ready to battle, because the only way home, is “DOWN!”

Soaring like an eagle in kirchberg @Topflight_ie #Topflightski pic.twitter.com/fKoP5UWusQ

— Alan Shortt (@Alanshortt) January 2, 2015