Ryding 12th in Schladming
24th January 2023
Last modified on January 26th, 2023
Dave Ryding has been back in action, just two days after winning silver at Kitzbühel on Sunday. It’s the Schladming night slalom – one of the most exciting events of the year. UPDATED
He’s not had much time to celebrate, or to rest.
The Schladming Night Slalom is always scheduled on the Tuesday after the Hahnenkamm weekend in Kitzbühel.
So it was a quick dash from one Austrian resort to the next.
And it was looking good for The Rocket after the first run.
He was in 6th spot, 0.74 seconds behind the leader, Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen.
It was set up nicely for one of his classic second run charges.
However, some errors lost him time and pushed him down the leaderboard.
He finished in 12th place, his joint second best result of the season.
The first run leader, Kristoffersen also made big mistakes and finished in 11th.
Clement Noel of France took his first win of the season. Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland was second and Lucas Braathen of Norway third.
On Sunday, The Rocket got his season firmly back on track, taking his sixth career World Cup podium with silver behind his friend, Switzerland’s Daniel Yule.
Lucas Braathen of Norway was third.
Dave Ryding on the Kitzbühel podium, January 2023. Image © KSC/Julian Jamnig
He was very close to repeating his victory on the same course just a year ago when he became the first British winner in the history of the alpine World Cup.
He finished the first run only in 16th place but his second run was the fastest of all the racers.
It was a brilliant, faultless second run, and he knew it when he reached the bottom.
Dave Ryding wins silver in Kitzbühel, January 2023. Image © KSC/Julian Jamnig
Before his podium, his best result this season had been a 12th place in Madonna di Campiglio.
He’s now been in the top 3 three times in Kitzbühel.
It was where he had his first podium in 2017, when he won silver, and where he took that famous victory in 2022.
“The old dog can still step up occasionally. I don’t know what it is with this place but three podiums here, it’s nuts,” Ryding told BBC Ski Sunday.
You can read our earlier article on the race and more British success at the weekend.
But Ryding’s attention quickly turned to the Planai course in Schladming, one of our favourite stops on the World Cup circuit and one of Ryding’s – though he’s yet to podium there.
His best result is an 8th place.
We were there with tens of thousands of other race fans in January 2020.
The crowds wer back in 2023 for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic.
Around 45,000 were estimated to be attending.
Nightrace ready 👀✅
The Bib’s are drawn and our @fisalpine Men’s slalom squad is ready for the Night Race at Schladming tomorrow🤩
Best of luck to the team 🍀💪
Full program:
1.⏱️: 4:45 PM GMT
2.⏱️: 7:45 PM GMTBib:@daveryding 8@BillyMajorSki 41@LaurieTaylorSki 57 pic.twitter.com/UFhTt4ofR5
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) January 23, 2023
Ryding was joined once again by his two fellow British slalom skiers, Billy Major and Laurie Taylor.
Unfortunately, both straddled gates and did not finish run one.
Next up for the GB men’s slalom team is Chamonix in France on 4th February.
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