twelfth June 2025
It’s laborious to overstate the influence that Dave Ryding has had on GB snowboarding. From his personal file, to his assist with different elite athletes and the inspiration he has offered to the following era. NEW
“What’s there to say about Dave that hasn’t already been mentioned?” commented the chief government of GB Snowsport, Vicky Gosling, as Dave introduced his retirement.
“He’s an icon, a legend of the game, and a person who embodies the whole lot it’s that makes British sport so unbelievable.
“His accomplishments on the slopes can be spoken about for many years, however the best way he’s impressed folks throughout the nation and helped deliver British Alpine snowboarding to a different degree is one in every of British sport’s nice success tales.
“Each one in every of us concerned on this sport owes Dave an enormous debt of gratitude for what he’s completed, and for what he continues to do.
“His dedication and drive to succeed is a mannequin for anybody who needs to succeed in the highest of their recreation, irrespective of the sphere they’re in, and I do know he’s going to indicate that once more all through his ultimate season on the circuit.”
Vicky Gosling, CEO GB Snowsport. Picture © PlanetSKI
Simply take a look at his stats and profession highlights:
2009 – World Cup debut in Alta Badia, Italy2009 – Makes World Championships debut, ending forty first in Large Slalom in Val d’Isere2010 – Competes at first profession Olympic Winter Video games in Whistler, Canada, ending forty seventh in Large Slalom and twenty seventh in Slalom2012 – First World Cup factors, ending twenty sixth in Levi, Finland2013 – First Europa Cup victory in Pozza, Italy2016 – First World Cup prime 10 end, with sixth place in Levi, Finland2017 – Finishes second in Kitzbuehel World Cup, changing into solely second British man to safe an Alpine World Cup podium after Konrad Bartelski2017 – Breaks prime 10 in Slalom World Cup standings, ending in eighth spot2018 – Secures two prime 10 Olympic placings, with ninth in Slalom and fifth in Crew Parallel in PyeongChang2019 – Data two World Championships prime 10 finishes with ninth place in each Slalom and Crew Parallel in Are2021 – Third place in Adelboden World Cup marks third profession World Cup podium, formally making Ryding Britain’s most profitable ever Alpine World Cup racer2022 – Makes historical past as first British skier to win an Alpine World Cup race with victory in Kitzbuehel2022 – Named as one in every of Crew GB’s two flagbearers for the 2022 Olympic Winter Video games Opening Ceremony in Beijing2022 – Data second eighth place end in Slalom World Cup standings2023 – Bookends yr with sixth and seventh World Cup podiums, ending second in Kitzbuehel in January and third in Madonna di Campiglio in December2024 – Ends season with finest ever Slalom World Cup standings, coming in seventh place, for highest profession ranking2025 – Finishes sixth in Saalbach World Championships, Britain’s finest Males’s Alpine World Championships outcome since earlier than the Second World Conflict
Right here at PlanetSKI we now have adopted his profession with ardour and final interviewed Dave on the Gurgl World Cup slalom in Austria final November.
James Cove & Dave Ryding. Picture c/o PlanetSKI
He was chatting with the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, within the World Cup media centre.
Listed below are some earlier PlanetSKI video interviews with Dave.
“Dave is the epitome of a sports activities star in my humble opinion,” mentioned James Cove.
“Being supremely gifted, centered and laborious working with good outcomes is a given.
“However what separates Dave from others is his modesty, humility and utter love of his sport and the folks he works with.
“I’ve adopted him on the World Cup circuit for a few years and no athlete or journalist has a single dangerous phrase to say about him.
“Everybody loves Dave.
“I bear in mind being on the Schaldming evening slalom a couple of years in the past and the loudest cheers have been clearly for the Austrian racers, however the second loudest cheers have been for Dave.
“The plucky Brit who raced on plastic.
“After I filed my race experiences I headed to the bars and donned a Dave Ryding masks and other people saved shopping for me beers and asking me if I knew Dave and what he was like.”
Schladming Evening Race. Picture © PlanetSKI
He has impressed so most of the youthful GB racers which can be coming by means of.
In the identical method he seemed as much as and was impressed by Alain Baxter, Dave is their position mannequin.
The GB alpine workforce has some vibrant prospects for the next years with Dave as their inspiration.
Zak Carrick-Smith. Picture Credit score: Sam Mellish / Crew GB
We’ve got been following the fortunes of the Carrick-Smith brothers for a few years and posted this text in 2018.
And let’s not overlook Molly Butler:
Dave’s outcomes and angle have additionally led to extra strong monetary foundations for the alpine ski workforce.
The workforce is totally funded for subsequent season and more cash is coming from the GBS Alpine Basis that was arrange a yr in the past.
Nick Robinson, GBS Alpine Basis. Picture © PlanetSKI
“For a few years there was appreciable assist for British Alpine ski racing programmes, alongside assist from UK Sport, from a number of people,” mentioned the GBS Alpine Basis Chairman, Nick Robinson.
“The Basis goals to deliver these folks collectively, making a community of passionate supporters.
“The US ski workforce has had a basis in operation since 1964; we hope to create one that’s equally influential.”
So, when Dave began his GB racing profession there have been poor outcomes, no apparent expertise coming by means of and little funding.
The image has modified and there was one man round when it remodeled.
Step ahead Dave Ryding.
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