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Ryding’s Final Run: A Legacy Forged on Determination

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most decorated alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as “The Rocket,” Ryding, a slalom specialist, achieved a landmark victory in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 with a sixth-place finish.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m committed to giving it my all for one more year and seeing what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels like the right time to conclude my career after the Olympics. I’m still at the top of my game, competing with the best, and I feel I can still give my all.

“I’m remarkably free of aches and pains, which is unusual in skiing.

“I don’t want to be hampered by injuries mid-season. While I’m still capable, I’ll strive to be the best in the world.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his historic gold medal in the Kitzbühel slalom.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—perfectly embodying his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination to reach the pinnacle of the sport against all odds.

Unlike many of his international counterparts, Ryding didn’t grow up surrounded by snow.

His skiing journey began at age six on a plastic dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire, with minimal snow training until age 13. He continued dry slope training into his early twenties.

His breakthrough into the top tier of the sport came later in his career, earning his first World Cup points just weeks before his 26th birthday, with no further points for another two years.

He first reached a World Cup podium in Kitzbühel, Austria, winning silver in 2017, while his most recent medal, a bronze, was achieved in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic result is ninth place at Pyeongchang 2018, but Ryding feels he could have performed better at the Games, where his almost three-year-old daughter, Nina, will be watching this time.

“I believe ninth doesn’t truly reflect my capabilities,” he said.

For his final season, Ryding will train alongside British teammates Billy Major, 28, and Laurie Taylor, 29. They have large shoes to fill, but follow a path that has elevated British skiing to new heights.

“It’s almost comical hearing kids casually discussing World Cup podiums,” said Ryding.

“While I don’t necessarily focus on podiums in races, the next generation certainly does.

“The belief I’ve instilled in the next generation is evident, and I’m excited to see what they accomplish over the next 20 years.”

His Kitzbühel gold medal in 2022 made Ryding, at age 35, the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race.

Dave’s alpine skiing achievements are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and unwavering passion; he works incredibly hard.

But his legacy extends beyond his results. He’s ignited a spark of belief in the next generation.

He’s shown young Britons that they don’t need a privileged background or a lifetime of skiing to reach the top.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to the Pendle dry ski slope, developing his work ethic and passion there. His ascent to World Cup level in his twenties is unprecedented in our sport.

The conventional wisdom emphasizes extensive snow training. But he forged a new path.

Sport often requires checking certain boxes. Dave ticked the biggest box – winning in Kitzbühel – independently and uniquely.

That’s the legacy I want him remembered for. It demonstrates that our sport can be far more inclusive than people realize.

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Ryding’s Emotional Thanks After Career-Best Championship Finish

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Ryding’s Final Run: A Legacy Forged on Determination

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most decorated alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as ‘the Rocket,’ Ryding, a slalom specialist, achieved a historic milestone in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 with a sixth-place finish.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m fully committed to one more year to see what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels right to end after the Olympics. I’m still at the top, competing with the best, and able to give it my all.

“I’m free from nagging injuries and pain, which is unusual in skiing.

“I don’t want to lose my form mid-season. While I’m able, I’ll strive to be the world’s best.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his historic gold medal in the Kitzbühel slalom.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—perfectly encapsulating his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination.

Unlike many international competitors, Ryding’s upbringing lacked snow-based training.

His skiing journey began at age six on a plastic dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire. Substantial snow training didn’t start until age 13, and he continued dry-slope racing into his early twenties.

His breakthrough to the top circuit was late, earning his first World Cup points just weeks before his 26th birthday, with further points only accumulating two years later.

His first World Cup podium appearance was a silver medal in Kitzbühel, Austria, in 2017, while his most recent medal, a bronze, came in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic finish is ninth at Pyeongchang 2018, a result Ryding feels doesn’t reflect his potential, especially with his nearly three-year-old daughter, Nina, watching this time.

“I believe ninth doesn’t truly represent my capabilities,” he commented.

For his final season, Ryding will train with teammates Billy Major (28) and Laurie Taylor (29), who will carry the torch for British skiing.

“Hearing kids casually discuss World Cup podiums is surreal,” Ryding remarked.

“While I don’t necessarily race with podiums in mind, the next generation certainly does.

“The belief instilled in the next generation is evident, and I’m excited to witness their progress over the next 20 years.”

His Kitzbühel gold in 2022 made Ryding the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race at age 35.

Ryding’s alpine skiing achievements exemplify dedication, perseverance, and immense passion. His work ethic is exceptional.

However, his legacy transcends results; it’s the inspiration he’s ignited in future generations.

He’s shown young Britons that elite success doesn’t require a privileged background or lifelong snow training.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to the Pendle dry slope, developing his strength and passion there. His World Cup breakthrough in his twenties is unprecedented in the sport.

While high snow-training volume is often cited as necessary, he forged a new path.

Sport often emphasizes ticking boxes; Ryding’s Kitzbühel win, achieved independently and uniquely, is the ultimate box-ticking achievement in our sport.

That’s the legacy I hope he’s remembered for: demonstrating that our sport can be more inclusive than many believe.

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Ryding’s Emotional Thanks After Championship Success

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Ryding’s Final Run: A Legacy Forged on Determination

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most decorated alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as “the Rocket,” Ryding, a slalom specialist, achieved a historic first in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 with a sixth-place finish.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m committed to giving it my all for one more year and seeing what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels like the right time to conclude my career after the Olympics. I’m still competing at the highest level, and I believe I can still give it my all.

“I’m currently injury-free, which is unusual in skiing.

“I don’t want to risk injury mid-season; it’s no fun. So, while I’m able, I’ll strive to be the best in the world.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his landmark gold medal in the Kitzbühel slalom.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he had “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—perfectly embodying his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination to reach the pinnacle of the sport against all odds.

Unlike many of his international counterparts, Ryding’s upbringing was not on snow.

His initial skiing experience was at age six on a dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire, with minimal snow training until age 13. He continued competing on dry slopes into his early twenties.

His breakthrough to the top tier of the sport came later, earning his first World Cup points just weeks before his 26th birthday, with more points only added two years later.

His first World Cup podium appearance was in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a silver medal in 2017. His most recent medal, a bronze, was in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic result is ninth place at Pyeongchang 2018, but Ryding feels he could have achieved more at the Games, where he will be joined by his nearly three-year-old daughter, Nina.

“I believe ninth doesn’t truly reflect my capabilities,” he said.

For his final season, Ryding will train alongside British teammates Billy Major, 28, and Laurie Taylor, 29. They have large shoes to fill but are following a path that has elevated British skiing to new heights.

“It’s almost comical to hear young people casually discuss World Cup podiums,” Ryding said.

“I don’t necessarily race with podiums in mind, but the next generation certainly does.

“The belief I’ve instilled in the next generation is evident, and I’m thrilled to see what they accomplish over the next 20 years.”

Ryding’s Kitzbühel gold in 2022 made him the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race at age 35.

Dave’s alpine skiing achievements are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and passion; he works incredibly hard.

But his impact transcends his results. It’s about the spark of belief he ignited in the next generation.

He showed young Britons that they don’t need a privileged background or a lifelong commitment to skiing to reach the top.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to the Pendle dry ski slope, where he developed his work ethic and passion. His rise to World Cup level in his twenties is unprecedented in the sport.

We often assume extensive snow training is necessary. But he created a new path.

Historically, athletes are expected to meet certain milestones. Dave achieved the ultimate milestone, winning in Kitzbühel, through his own hard work and unique journey.

That’s the legacy I hope he’s remembered for. It shows our sport can be far more inclusive than people realize.

Video Unavailable

Ryding’s Emotional Thanks After Championship Best

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Ryding’s Final Run: A Legacy Forged on Determination

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most decorated alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as “The Rocket,” Ryding, a slalom specialist, achieved a landmark victory in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 with a sixth-place finish.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m committed to giving it my all for one more year and seeing what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels like the right time to conclude my career after the Olympics. I’m still at the peak of my sport, capable of competing with the best, and I feel I can still give it my all.

“I’m fortunate to be free of injuries and pain, which is unusual in skiing.

“I don’t want to have a sudden decline mid-season. While I’m still able, I’ll strive to be the best in the world.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his historic Kitzbühel slalom gold.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he had “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—perfectly embodying his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination.

Unlike many of his international counterparts, Ryding’s skiing journey began on a dry slope.

His first skiing experience was at age six on a plastic dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire, with limited snow training until age 13. He continued competing on dry slopes into his early twenties.

His breakthrough into the sport’s top tier came later, earning his first World Cup points just weeks before his 26th birthday, with minimal additional points for two years.

His first World Cup podium was in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a silver medal in 2017. His most recent medal, a bronze, was in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic finish is ninth at Pyeongchang 2018, but Ryding feels he could have performed better, particularly with his nearly three-year-old daughter, Nina, watching.

“I believe ninth doesn’t truly reflect my capabilities,” he said.

For his final season, Ryding will train alongside British teammates Billy Major, 28, and Laurie Taylor, 29. They have a significant legacy to uphold, yet they are building upon a foundation that has elevated British skiing.

“It’s almost humorous to hear young people casually discuss World Cup podiums,” said Ryding.

“While I don’t necessarily focus on podiums in races, the next generation certainly does.

“The confidence I’ve instilled in the next generation is evident, and I’m thrilled to witness their progress over the next 20 years.”

At 35, Ryding’s Kitzbühel gold made him the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race.

Dave’s alpine skiing achievements are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and unwavering passion. He works incredibly hard.

But his impact transcends his results; he’s ignited a belief in the next generation.

He’s shown young Britons that elite success isn’t solely reserved for those with privileged backgrounds and lifelong snow training.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to Pendle’s dry ski slope, developing his skill and passion. His rise to World Cup level in his twenties is exceptional in the sport.

The conventional wisdom is that extensive snow training is essential, but he forged a new path.

Sport often dictates a specific trajectory to success. Dave defied expectations, achieving the pinnacle by winning in Kitzbühel, forging his own unique path.

That’s the legacy I hope he’ll be remembered for—demonstrating the inclusive potential of our sport.

Video unavailable

Ryding’s Emotional Thanks After Championship Best

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Ryding: One Last Season for Glory

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most decorated alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as ‘the Rocket,’ the slalom specialist achieved a landmark victory in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934, finishing sixth.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m committed to giving it my all for one more year and seeing what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels like the right time to conclude my career after the Olympics. I’m still at the peak of my game, able to compete with the best, and I feel I can still give 100%.

“I’m currently injury-free, which is unusual in skiing.

“I don’t want to decline mid-season. While I’m still capable, I’ll strive to be the best in the world.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his historic gold medal in the Kitzbühel slalom.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he had “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—epitomizing his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination to reach the pinnacle of his sport, despite facing numerous challenges.

Unlike many of his international counterparts, Ryding didn’t grow up surrounded by snow.

He first skied at age six on a dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire, and had limited snow training until age 13. He continued competing on dry slopes into his early twenties.

His rise to the top circuit was late, earning his first World Cup points shortly before his 26th birthday, with further points only arriving two years later.

His first World Cup podium appearance was in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a silver medal in 2017. His most recent medal, a bronze, was won in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic result is ninth place at Pyeongchang 2018, but Ryding feels he could have achieved more at the Games, where he’ll be cheered on by his almost three-year-old daughter, Nina.

“I believe ninth doesn’t fully reflect my capabilities,” he commented.

For his final season, Ryding will train alongside British teammates Billy Major, 28, and Laurie Taylor, 29. They have a high bar to clear, but are following in the footsteps of a racer who transformed British skiing.

“It’s almost humorous to hear children casually discussing World Cup podiums,” Ryding said.

“I don’t necessarily race with podiums in mind, but the next generation certainly do.

“The belief I’ve instilled in the next generation is evident, and I’m excited to witness its impact over the next 20 years.”

His Kitzbühel gold in 2022 made him the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race at 35.

Dave’s alpine skiing achievements are a testament to his commitment, perseverance, and unwavering passion; he works incredibly hard.

However, his legacy transcends his results. It’s about inspiring the next generation.

He showed young Britons that they don’t need a privileged background or a lifetime of skiing to excel.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to the Pendle dry ski slope, where he honed his skills and passion. His rise to World Cup level in his twenties is unprecedented.

We often assume extensive snow training is crucial. But he forged a new path.

Historically, athletes must meet specific criteria. Dave achieved the ultimate goal—victory in Kitzbühel—in his own unique way.

That’s the legacy I hope he’s remembered for. It demonstrates the inclusivity of our sport.

Video Unavailable

Ryding’s Emotional Thanks After Championship Best

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Ryding: One Last Season to See What We Can Achieve

Dave Ryding, Britain’s most successful alpine ski racer, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Known as ‘the Rocket,’ the slalom specialist achieved a landmark victory in 2022, becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold.

Earlier this year, he secured Britain’s best men’s World Championship result since 1934 with a sixth-place finish.

The 38-year-old’s fifth and final Olympic Games will be held in Milan-Cortina this February.

“I’m committed to giving it my all for one more year and seeing what we can achieve,” he told BBC Sport.

“With my body feeling good, now feels like the right time to end my career after the Olympics. I’m still at the top of my game, able to compete with the best, and I still feel I can give it everything.

“I’m injury-free, which is rare in skiing.

“I don’t want to decline mid-season. While I’m capable, I’ll strive to be the best in the world.”

Ryding boasts seven World Cup podium finishes, culminating in his historic gold medal in the Kitzbühel slalom.

Following that victory, Ryding stated he had “never stopped believing, never stopped trying”—a testament to his “Northern grit” and unwavering determination to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Unlike many of his international counterparts, Ryding’s upbringing was not immersed in snow.

His first skiing experience was at age six on a dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire, with minimal snow training until age 13. He continued dry-slope training into his early twenties.

His breakthrough to the top tier was late, earning his first World Cup points just weeks before his 26th birthday, with no further points for two years.

His first World Cup podium was in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a silver medal in 2017. His most recent medal, a bronze, came in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December 2023.

His best Olympic finish is ninth at Pyeongchang 2018, but Ryding feels he could have achieved more at the Games, where he will be supported by his nearly three-year-old daughter, Nina.

“I believe ninth doesn’t accurately reflect my capabilities,” he said.

For his final season, Ryding will train alongside British teammates Billy Major, 28, and Laurie Taylor, 29. They have large shoes to fill, but they follow a path that has elevated British skiing to new heights.

“It’s almost comical hearing children casually discuss World Cup podiums,” said Ryding.

“While I don’t necessarily focus on podiums in races, the next generation certainly does.

“I see the impact I’ve had on the next generation, instilling belief, and I’m excited to see what they achieve over the next 20 years.”

His Kitzbühel gold medal in 2022 made him the oldest man to win a World Cup slalom race at age 35.

Dave’s alpine skiing accomplishments are a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and passion; he works incredibly hard.

But his impact transcends his results. He’s ignited a belief in the next generation.

He’s shown young Britons that they don’t need a privileged background or lifelong snow experience to excel.

He overcame significant adversity, dedicating himself to the Pendle dry slope, developing his work ethic and passion. He only reached World Cup level in his twenties, an anomaly in the sport.

We often assume massive snow-based training volume is essential. He forged a different path.

In sport, we often believe certain milestones must be achieved. Dave achieved the ultimate—Kitzbühel victory—in his own way.

That’s his lasting legacy. It demonstrates the sport’s potential for greater inclusivity.

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Ryding Expresses Gratitude to Wife Following Career-Best Championship Result