(CNN) When the snow melts, when fields of white turn luscious green leaving no remnants of winter behind, Harry Laidlaw will leave Europe and return to Australia.

The 23-year-old dreams of being like the rest of the world's elite skiers, of following the snow all year round. But financial constraints mean that after spending the last seven months flying down colossal mountains, the Alpine skier must head home, to live with his parents and work on a construction site.

His sole aim will be to earn enough money so that he can slip into his ski boots and hurtle down the slopes when winter returns to Europe's peaks and, just perhaps, become his country's finest skiing export.

Though money does not motivate Laidlaw -- "what I'm doing now is pretty amazing," he says -- he will not progress in the sport without it.

The Australian is not yet one of the world's best Alpine skiers and neither does he come from a country with infinite resources to finance his ambitions, which means reaching the pinnacle is not only a question of talent but economics, too.

It can be a brutal existence, akin to climbing Everest in flip-flops: Few become great without funding, but few want to fund those who aren't great.

Laidlaw competes in the men's Super G event at the 2019 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships at the National Arena in Are

"It's not easy," says Laidlaw in his easygoing Australian manner.

"Australia doesn't have as many skiers because they quit quite early because we're so far away from home and have to live in Europe for seven months of the year. It's an expensive sport so when there's no support from the federation it's hard to make it work.

"We have a ski federation, but Alpine skiing is not something they support really because we have Scotty James, who is a halfpipe snowboarder, and we have some really good mogul skiers, so a lot of the money and support is driven to them. It's left to us to find sponsors and money to keep it going.

"When I'm home I'm working and trying to make as much money as I can to go towards my skiing. It's purely trying to make enough money to break even by the end."

Laidlaw wants to be the first Australian skiier to break into the world's top 30

By spending the off season on a building site and working at Hotham Alpine Resort in the Victoria, around 132 miles (213km) away from his home city of Melbourne, Laidlaw, with the added support of his parents, keeps alive his dream of climbing up the world rankings.

There have been times, he admits, when he has considered giving up. Times after a bad race or practice session where he wishes he could speak to his brother, once himself a ski racer, or his mum, a former ski instructor.

"Sometimes it feels like I'm alone a lot," he says of half a year spent thousands of miles from home.

"But it's not really hard to get motivated because I have my goals that I want to achieve, and I know the top guys have so much more support around them, so I have to work harder than them to achieve what I want to, or to get to that top level where those guys are," says Laidlaw.

"Australia hasn't had a Top 30 giant slalom skier ever so that's one of my goals, to be ranked in the Top 30 and go beyond."

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At the World Ski Championship in Are, Sweden, he finished 37th in the Super G, but did not complete the first run of the Giant Slalom. Ranked 96th in the world in the Giant Slalom and 256th in the Super G, Laidlaw knows he has much to do.

Once a promising AFL player, he could have been on a lucrative contract in Aussie Rules by now, but the skier has no regrets.

Since joining a small private team, Global Racing, a couple of seasons ago, Laidlaw -- who is also studying to be a paramedic -- has never been happier; he is more appreciative of the opportunities that the sport brings; the different cultures, the adrenaline rush of spending his days working at high velocity.

He has made friends, he says, with the 10 skiers of various nationalities who make up the team created by the American coach Paul Epstein. They are a crew of skiers who either have no backing from their country's federation or who are on the fringes of their national team's set-up.

"I'm envious of teams that have physios and equipment guys but, no, I'm really happy at the moment with our team," says Laidlaw.

"It is quite special because we're really good friends, whereas I think on those national teams they're all fighting for a spot. From what I see they don't really vibe so well."

During the season, Laidlaw will train four to five days on the snow, resting on the off-days which will often involve staying with his European teammates "sleeping on the couch or something."

Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Winter wonderland – Snow covers the mountains and the 2018-2019 ski racing season is under way. Here's some of the best photos from the circuit. Hide Caption 1 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Taste of victory – Marcel Hirscher shares his slalom victory in Levi, Finland, with a friend. Hide Caption 2 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing All in the landing – Klaus Brandner looks to regain his balance as he races in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Hide Caption 3 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Feeling the snow – Mikaela Shiffrin gets low to the ground in St Moritz, where she won the parallel slalom and super-G events.



Hide Caption 4 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Shining light – The giant slalom slope of Val d'Isère shines amid dark skies; the slalom was canceled because of bad weather. Hide Caption 5 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Leap of faith – France's Alexis Pinturault searches for speed en route to a third-placed finish in Alta Badia, Italy.

Hide Caption 6 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Poles apart – Petra Vlhova in action at the women's slalom in Semmering, Austria. Hide Caption 7 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Snowballing out of control – Norway's Mina Fuerst Holtmann crashes out in Zagreb's women's slalom. Hide Caption 8 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Leaving a trace – US skier Thomas Biesemeyer leaves a spray of snow behind him as he cuts inside. Hide Caption 9 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Crashing out – Canada's Erin Mielzynski ends up on her back during the women's slalom in Zagreb. Hide Caption 10 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing The queen's coronation – Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates with champagne and a crown after winning the women's slalom in Zagreb. Hide Caption 11 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A winter's image – Marcel Hirscher flies round a bend during a winning run at the picturesque Adelboden. Hide Caption 12 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Flying the flag – Austria's Marcel Hirscher is presented as the winner of the giant slalom race in Adelboden. Hide Caption 13 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Snow distraction – Mikaela Shiffrin closes her eyes as her runners-up celebrate by throwing snowballs at her in Kronplatz. Hide Caption 14 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Posing for the camera – Italy's Federica Brignone competes in the women's giant slalom at Kronplatz. Hide Caption 15 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Balancing act – Travis Ganong in super-G action on a hazy day. Hide Caption 16 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Jumping for joy – Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr flies through the Wengen air during his winning run in the men's downhill event. Hide Caption 17 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing The sky's the limit – Matthias Mayer steadies himself before beginning his downhill, with the clouds above him mirroring the Wengen mountains. Hide Caption 18 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A mountain to climb – A female skier competes against the domineering backdrop of Cortina's rocky mountains. Hide Caption 19 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Picture perfect – Mikaela Shiffrin wins in Cortina as she dominates the super-G in the Italian mountains. Hide Caption 20 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing White as snow – Jonathan Nordbotten slaloms towards the Kitzbuhel faithful on a snow-filled day in Austria. Hide Caption 21 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Arnie – "He's back...!" Muscleman, movie star and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger takes in the action during his regular visit to the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbuhel. Hide Caption 22 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Italian style – Dominik Paris in action on his way to winning the men's downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Hide Caption 23 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Airborne – Manuel Schmid takes an insect-like leap during his super-G run at Kitzbuehel. Hide Caption 24 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Pick that one out – Italy's Sofia Goggia celebrates finishing second in the women's downhill in Garmisch. Hide Caption 25 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Lying low – Swiss skier Luana Fluetsch appears almost flat on the snow as she competes in the super-G in Garmisch. Hide Caption 26 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing One of the World Cup circuit's most celebrated events is the night slalom in Schladming, Austria. Thousands of ski racing fans line the slope to watch the world's best compete under floodlights. Local hero Marcel Hirscher triumphed again this year. Hide Caption 27 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Swerving all obstacles – Marcel Hirscher focuses as he slides past the poles during the slalom. Hide Caption 28 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Light in the darkness – Alexis Pinturault takes second place at night during the men's slalom in Schladming. Hide Caption 29 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Disturbing the surface – Switzerland's Daniel Yule competes in Schladming Hide Caption 30 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Black and white – The silhouette of Gabriela Capova stands out as she competes in the slalom event in Maribor. Hide Caption 31 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Snowed under – Fans in Garmisch seek shelter as the men's competition is canceled due to weather conditions. Hide Caption 32 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A World Championship view – Are, the home of the 2019 World Ski Championships. Hide Caption 33 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A moment of panic – Lindsey Vonn is surrounded after a gruesome fall at the World Championships in Are. Hide Caption 34 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Back on her feet – Lindsey Vonn is helped after crashing out of the penultimate race of her career in the super-G event at the World Championships in Are. Hide Caption 35 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A fairytale ending – Despite crashing earlier in the week, Lindsey Vonn goes out in style at the World Championships in Are. Hide Caption 36 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing A legend's farewell – Vonn celebrates winning World Championship bronze in the downhill in her final race before retirement. Hide Caption 37 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing This way and that – Slovenia's Stefan Hadalin competes in the first run of the men's giant slalom at the World Championships in Are. Hide Caption 38 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Pole position – Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway steps out of long-time rival Marcel Hrischer's shadow to win gold in the giant slalom in Are. Hide Caption 39 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Picture perfect – Sweden's Anna Swenn-Larsson reacts after winning silver in the slalom at the World Ski Championships in Are. Hide Caption 40 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Overcome with emotion – Mikaela Shiffrin collapses to the ground in delight as she wins her fourth consecutive gold in the slalom at the World Ski Championships. Hide Caption 41 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing When perils of the slalom – Mikaela Shiffrin finds herself in a tangle during the city event in Stockholm. Hide Caption 42 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Grey – The men's super-G is canceled due to a of heavy overnight snowfall. Hide Caption 43 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Photographic perfection – A racer's silhouette arches across a peerless landscape. Hide Caption 44 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Child's play – Switzerland's Wendy Holdener poses with a furry mascot during the combined event at Crans-Montana. Hide Caption 45 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Taking the plaudits – Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates her victory in the Alpine combined race at Crans-Montana. Hide Caption 46 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing When poles collide – French racer Alexis Pinturault in action during the giant slalom in Bansko, Bulgaria. Hide Caption 47 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Beaten by the elements – The women's super-G falls victim to Sochi's curious weather patterns. Hide Caption 48 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing No-go zone – The Rosa Khutor resort in Sochi looks a ghostly, isolated picture after competition is called off due to conditions. Hide Caption 49 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Up in the canopies – Switzerland's Priska Nufer leaps as she competes in the downhill at Crans-Montana. Hide Caption 50 of 51 Photos: Stunning images from ski racing Snow blue – Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec leaves a path of turquoise in her trail at Crans-Montana. Hide Caption 51 of 51

He often spends time with teammate Dries Van den Broecke, a Belgian in his second season with Global Racing, who before joining the team would spend his evenings looking online for cheap hotel deals, booking flights or driving to the next race.

Though he now has a coach, a program to follow, teammates to learn from and travel arrangements taken care of, money still is, the 23-year-old says, "for sure a worry."

"We have to pay the program fee, which is $21,000, and we have to pay travel costs. It's a lot of money," he says.

"Luckily enough I found a sponsor to pay a program fee because I don't make enough money yet so my parents have to pay the rest.

"The minimum we spent is around 45,000 euros ($52,000) a year. This year I got 21,000 euros ($24,000) in sponsorship.

Belgium olympic skier Dries Van den Broecke in action.

"Before I had sponsors it was hard. My parents, mostly my mother, was always talking about the money, it was actually demotivating and you almost start to think it's not worth it.

"In ski racing, if you're top 15 you can make a living and you have the money.

"I will make money, but I have to spend it. We are running at the minimum, we're spending the least possible amount.

"The struggle for money, you have to get over it, because if you keep worrying about that you won't get good results. If you set your mind on the task you have to do, the training, it is beautiful."

Like Laidlaw, it is a love for skiing, a sport he learned on a dry ski slope in Belgium, that drives Van den Broecke. They both believe they can improve, that they can compete with the best.

"The big goal is of course the next Olympics," says Van den Broecke, while Laidlaw admits that he wants to "be the best."

"I'm trying not to make it so serious and I think that's when I do well, when I can be free and be enjoying it," says Laidlaw.

"At the moment it's fun and I'm having fun so I think that's the most important thing for me."