Watch Dave Ryding race to Britain’s best ever WC slalom result in Kitzbühel

UK ski racer Dave Ryding snatches podium at Kitzbühel, storming to second place in the slalom and matching GB’s best Alpine Ski World Cup result!

Huge congratulations from everyone at Fall-Line to Delancey British Alpine Team skier Dave ‘Rocket’ Ryding, who claimed a historic second place at the World Cup Slalom in Kitzbühel over the weekend in Great Britain’s best ever slalom result!

Incredibly he was in the overall lead at the end of the first round, before laying down such a good second run – as the very last skier down the by now heavily rutted course – that only Austrian slalom ace Marcel Hirscher was able to go faster.

This was Ryding’s sixth top 15 finish of the season and Britain’s best result in an Alpine World Cup for 35 years, matching Konrad Bartelski’s second place in the Downhill at Val Gardena, Italy in 1981.

Dave Ryding Slalom Round 1 Kitzbühel:

22.1.2017 DAVE RYDING Winning Slalom Run (1) KITZBUHEL

A Flawless Run By Great Britain’s Dave ‘Rocket’ Ryding! Well Done Dave – GOOD SHOW FELLA!! Slalom (Run 1) At The World Cup Alpine Ski, In Kitzbuhel, Austria 22.January 2017.

Dave Ryding Slalom Round 2 Kitzbühel

22.1.2017 DAVE RYDING 2nd Place Slalom Run (2) KITZBÜHEL

A Valiant Effort By Great Britains Dave Ryding! Earning Him A Well Deserved Second Place At Kitzbuhel Alpine World Cup Slalom. 22 January 2017. *SPECIAL OFFER* – Eurosport Player £19.99 For 12 Month Pass! http://uk.eurosportplayer.com/subscription/pass.shtml

After the race, Ryding said:

“It is an insane feeling. After the first run I knew I had skied it clean, but couldn’t believe it when I crossed the finish line. Between the runs I tried to keep my heart rate down and tried to forget I would be the last man down on the second run. After the second run I just thought to myself ‘I’ve done it!’. Hirscher skied so well, so coming second almost felt like a victory. 

I have so much respect for all the British skiers winning World Cup points, but to have got this result is just amazing. Although I knew Kitzbuehel would suit me I wasn’t expecting a podium this season. But I am a consistent skier and I have been in the top 15 or 10 consistently this season so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised

This result is for my supporters, family, girlfriend, sponsors and of course my coaches. They do the work of two men and they have made this possible. Having a funded programme makes a huge difference and I hope this result will be a big boost for British skiing. With the changes made in British Ski and Snowboard in the last year, there is suddenly a confidence in British skiing that wasn’t there before, and we are definitely going in the right direction.

Now I am just going to stay focused and I don’t want expectations to rise too much. I am just back to training tomorrow with Schladming on Tuesday.”

Ryding started racing on a dry slope at Pendle Ski Club and is on a programe run and primarily funded by British Ski and Snowboard and principle sponsor Delancey. He also receives funding from personal sponsors.