Dave Ryding

Delancey British Alpine Team skier Dave Ryding claimed a historic second place at the World Cup Slalom in Kitzbuehel, as he matched Great Britain’s best ever Alpine World Cup result.

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 a Downhill World Cup in 1981.

After finishing the first run in the lead, he was the last racer down the tricky Kitzbuehel course for the second run, eventually claiming second place behind Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher.

Ryding said after the race: “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 Skin 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 Schaldming on Tuesday.”

For all the information on British Ski and Snowboard visit www.teambss.org.uk

PHOTO: British Ski & Snowboard

Categories: Racing