The famous Austrian ski resort of Kitzbühel has named a gondola cabin on the Hahnenkamm-Bahn lift after British skier Dave Ryding – an honour bestowed on all winners of the famous race down through the years.
It is another highlight of an impressive year for the British skier which included him winning the Hahnenkamm slalom World Cup race in Kitzbühel – the first ever for a Brit. The triumph has since been voted the best moment in the Men’s World Cup tour of 2021/22 following a worldwide vote.
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in February, he was named as the joint flag-bearer for the British team at the opening ceremony.
And earlier this month (May 2022), Dave married his partner Mandy at a ceremony in Lancashire close to where they live and run a café they purchased three years ago.
Commenting on Dave’s recent accolade, a Kitzbühel spokesperson said: “Rarely has a victory by an athlete received such undivided approval among many ski fans. The affable Briton, Dave Ryding became slalom winner on the Ganslern slope in a memorable slalom in January 2022, during heavy snow.
“The last British victory in a Hahnenkamm race was by Evelyn Pinching in 1937 in the women’s downhill.”
British skier Gordon Cleaver also achieved a victory 1931 in the combined classification from the first Hahnenkamm race in 1931.
The spokesperson continued: “Since the beginning of the Hahnenkamm races, Kitzbühel and the United Kingdom have been connected in a special way. The first Hahnenkamm World Cup victory by Dave Ryding strengthens this bond even further, which we are very happy about!
Dr. Viktoria Veider-Walser, managing director of Kitzbühel Tourism added: “The British market has always been of great importance to Kitzbühel Tourism, which is why we are celebrating this victory in particular.”
The gondola handover was officially opened in the valley station of the Hahnenkamm lift at 10.30am. Dave Ryding, was welcomed to Kitzbühel by Mag. Anton Bodner, Chairman of the Board of Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel, Mag. Christian Wörister, Member of the Board of Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel, and Dr. Michael Huber, President of the Kitzbühel Ski Club.
After an ascent to the top station, the presentation of gondola bearing the name of Dave Ryding took place and was followed by a traditional British meal of fish and chips at the Hahnenkamm-Starthaus, and then a party at The London Pub.
Dave now joins Prince Charles as one of two Brits known to have ski lift cabins named after them, The Prince of Wales has a cable car cabin in Klosters which commemorated his 40-year association with the Swiss resort.
Dave’s next challenge will be becoming a father as wife Mandy is expecting their first child very soon!
* The Skier & Snowboarder magazine recently had a chance to sit down with Dave in Obergurgl in the Tirol. You can read the interview by CLICKING HERE