Ryding Speaks to PlanetSKI After a Top Ten in Gurgl
23rd November 2024
Last modified on December 2nd, 2024
The Rocket comes 7th in Gurgl at the men’s slalom. As well as watching & reporting on the race PlanetSKI has a video interview with Dave.
First the post-race video interview.
He was speaking to the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, in the World Cup media centre.
The video interview has prompted many readers to comment on the PlanetSKI Facebook page:
As for the race itself there may be disappointment from some that the man they call the Rocket didn’t quite make the podium, but a Top Ten finish is a highly creditable performance.
The race was won by Clement Noel from France who now has two wins out of two this season in the slalom.
We have a video of Noel’s winning run lower down this article – he is the man to beat.
After the race Dave told PlanetSKI that it was a real fight in tricky conditions and that it was a strong day for him despite a mistake in the second run.
“I can’t complain with a 7th place so I am happy,” said Dave.
He was 0.75 of a second of the winning time.
We have a full and exclusive video interview with Dave lower down this article, where he talks about the race today, the season ahead, his thoughts on greats like Marcel Hirscher and maybe Lindsey Vonn returning to alpine ski racing.
Oh, and plus what he is up to at Xmas.
Overall the Gurgl slaloms this weekend have been deemed a huge success with 9,800 spectators watching the men’s slalom on Sunday.
There were 7,900 at the women’s event on Saturday.
There are two separate courses on the Kirchenar slope above Hochgurgl.
“It is so good to see so many race fans here and wonderful to have the women racing along with the men this year as it adds a whole new dimension,” said one of the driving forces of bringing slalom racing to Gurgl, Alban Scheiber.
He posed for pictures with Ryding for PlanetSKI and chatted to us in between the first and second runs.
Alban and Dave. Image © PlanetSKI
“It really is a dream come true and I hope you come back next year James.”
Ryding often does well in Austria and the crowd once again took him to their hearts, giving him one of the largest cheers after the Austrian racers themselves.
There were a few Brits in the crowd too.
He ended up beating all the Austrian racers with Fabio Gstrein the highest finisher for Austria in 9th place.
At the end of the first run Ryding was in a strong position in 5th place.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
At one point Ryding was in second place, but dropped down.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
GB’s Laurie Taylor was in 29th place in the first run and made it through to the second run.
He finished in 23rd place overall in another creditable performance.
Billy Major carded a DNF (did not finish) in his first run and was out.
Slalom is a ruthless sport.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
As well as the sporting action itself the slalom event is a great spectator experience.
The crowds headed up the hill early to get prime position for the action.
There is nothing quite like alpine ski races in Austria and it is never too early for some beers and food.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
We will be bringing you a full article on what it is like spending a weekend watching slalom racing.
If it is something you haven’t done then you may want to consider it.
For us at PlanetSKI it is our favourite snowsport discipline.
Here’s the winning run from Clement Noel:
Clement Noel makes a wonderful start into the new season! 🎿✨👏#fisalpine #worldcupgurgl #skiverrückt #gurgl #wintersport pic.twitter.com/ROkPksDJVt
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) November 24, 2024
The video interview with Dave that we posted earlier was done at the Media Centre, which in normal times is a motorcycle museum.
On Saturday Mikaela Shiffrin tried out a Harley for size.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
Dave followed suit on Sunday.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
Just in case you are wondering it is a 1940, 1,000c Harley Davidson and is worth around €100,000.
It is still in working order, with the same paint as it left the factory almost 85 years ago.
See here for more about the motorcycle museum:
Top of the Mountain Motorcycle Museum. Image © PlanetSKI
But we digress, so back to the ski racing.
Last weekend in Levi in Finland Ryding came 16th in the first race of the season.
He was in fifth place after the first run, thus proving he is skiing up there with the best of them.
This winter is an Olympic qualifying season with Dave hoping he has what it takes to get to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
If he can repeat his form of last season we’re in for quite a ride.
He ended the season in 7th place – his best overall position.
PlanetSKI’s editor James Cove is slopeside in Gurgl this weekend and on Saturday watched Mikaela Shiffin come within one victory of the magic 100 number.
Gurgl World Cup. Image © PlanetSKI
James and Dave last met in Gurgl in March 2022.
If you want to know about Dave then see this longer interview:
James Cove & Dave Ryding. Image © PlanetSKI
Last winter PlanetSKI also caught up with The Rocket at the Schladming night slalom in Austria.
That time Jane Peel was asking the questions.
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel with Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Image © PlanetSKI
Here at PlanetSKI we are also be following his GB slalom team mates Billy Major and Laurie Taylor.
At Kitzbuehel last winter all three came in the Top Twenty.
- Dave Ryding, 5th
- Billy Major, 13th
- Laurie Taylor, 19th
It was an historic day for GB slalom skiing:
Now is a very fine time if you are a GB fan of slalom racing.
PlanetSKI most definitely is and we’ll be at more races this season and reporting back.
Related Articles:
