Grin and bare it

(un)Fortunately we couldn't get hold of the nude Schoenfelder pictures

An Austrian skier was caught short when he was photographed skiing naked after losing a bet with his physiotherapist.

Former world slalom champion Rainer Schoenfelder had agreed to ski in his birthday suit if he had fully recovered from the effects of a crash last week.

The 29-year-old had been so sceptical about competing at the 4455m-long Lauberhorn in Switzerland after conventional treatment had failed to reduce head and back pains that he made his outlandish bet.

However his physiotherapist used what he described a 'special' technique to eliminate the pain, much to Schoenfelder's surprise and delight.

And true to his word, Schoenfelder cruised down the Lauberhorn wearing only yellow boots, an orange helmet and gloves.

"Somehow I didn't notice the photographer," said Schoenfelder. "It was an internal bet and of course the whole thing wasn't planned for the public.

"I am happy, though, that the pains have eased up and that it was not cold when I honoured my debt."

Schoenfelder is quite a colourful character on and off the slopes. He once had a hit in the Austrian charts with a cover version of a famous song about skiing.

Austria's head skiing coach Toni Giger was indifferent about the whole stunt.

"I have no problem with nudity in general," he said. "I haven't seen the pictures but no one was hurt. This was typical Schoenfelder behaviour."