There are countless ways to make a memorable entrance at an après-ski party. You could, for one, be the guy or gal who offers to buy everyone a round. Regaling others with epic stories from the mountain could work, too. Then, there’s always shooting for the title of best (or worst) dancer.
One paraglider at Ifen Ski Resort, Austria, had something else in mind, though. He’d float down to the big show. Afterward, presumably, he’d saunter up to the bar and spend the rest of the afternoon answering questions about his descent. It didn’t go quite that well, though.
Find out what we mean below.
According to @chrislifestyl, who posted the video, the paraglider thankfully turned out all right.
“A paraglider suddenly flew directly toward a crowded après-ski party in the mountains and appeared to aim for a landing right next to the people,” the video’s description reads. “Everyone started reacting and laughing as the unexpected moment happened during the ski vacation. I recorded the funny scene on video. It wasn’t a proper landing, but he is safe and doing well.”
That brings us to another point. Yes, sticking the landing would be cool. But rolling over—and falling off—a roof before walking away unscathed? There’s some appeal there, too. It’s not every day you get to meet someone who plunged out of the sky and lived to tell the tale, let alone share the dance floor with them. We’re hoping this paraglider got their props after the snow settled.
They’re also far from alone in botched, highly visible aerial landings.
Not so long ago, a parachutist and former member of U.S. Army special operations went viral after crash landing on the scoreboard at a Virginia Tech football game. He spent about 30 minutes dangling in the air before being rescued. For him, it was one of countless jumps, showing that even when you’re an expert, things can always go south when parachutes are involved.
The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.
