sixteenth February 2026
GB’s best alpine ski racer Dave Ryding has introduced the curtain down on his lengthy Winter Olympic profession with seventeenth place within the slalom on the Milan-Cortina Video games. It’s his fifth Olympics. UPDATED
The primary run on the Stelvio in Bormio went forward in a blizzard.
The floodlights have been on in an try to supply some visibility for the racers.
Most of the world’s greatest struggled.
The brand new Olympic Big Slalom champion, Lucas Pinheiro Braaten, was amongst an extended checklist of contenders who failed to finish the course.
Dave dug deep in worsening situations, however crossed the road 3.74s behind the chief, Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath.
It was ok for nineteenth place within the first run with yet another to comply with
Dave Ryding on the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Picture © Sam Mellish/Group GB
Not too dangerous because it turned out, particularly as, of 95 starters, solely 44 made it to the end line.
“I couldn’t actually see what was beneath my ft,” Dave informed the BBC after his run.
“Let’s see if I can discover one final run, let’s see what I can do.”
Simply earlier than Dave went for run two, the BBC presenter and four-time Olympic ski racer, Chemmy Alcott, put it completely:
“No matter occurs at present is irrelevant as a result of the influence of Dave Ryding will final for an extended, very long time.”
Fortuitously, the climate cleared for run two.
Dave efficiently negotiated all of the gates from prime to backside to bow out of his lengthy and noteworthy Olympic profession.
Dave Ryding waving goodbye on the finish of his final Olympics. Picture © Sam Mellish/Group GB
Ryding was one in all three Group GB skiers within the race, with Billy Main ending one place increased in sixteenth, however Laurie Taylor straddled a gate on his first run.
“As a lot as I’ve helped them, they’ve helped me,” Ryding stated of his team-mates.
“It’s over to them, I might need to signal on in a number of weeks!
“It feels proper, I really feel prepared and I’m trying ahead to the longer term.”
He’s adamant he’ll keep within the sport in some capability and is eager to mentor younger skiers.
Billy Main paid his personal tribute to his teammate and good pal.
“I’ve nonetheless bought some time left in ski racing,” stated Billy.
” I don’t know if I’ll make to 39, that’s fairly a factor to do, however I’m immensely pleased with him and Laurie (Taylor) and different expertise coming by,” he informed the BBC.
“It’s nice to see that British snowboarding is getting stronger and stronger, and that’s what we need to proceed, for issues to develop and transfer in the fitting path, and with the help, something’s potential.
“Dave confirmed it and we’ll be sure we get that.”
There have been tributes from PlanetSKI readers to Dave’s last Olympic look over on the PlanetSKI Fb web page:.
Jo Taylor: Congratulations Dave. What a profession.. what a legend! Thanks.
Nicole Pelletier: Stunning efficiency, Dave! Bittersweet pleasure seeing you cross that end line.
Lynette Maxwell: Thanks and congratulations.
Russ Sparkes: Fabulous work Mr Ryding. Be proud as a result of we’re!
Ian Phillips: Nice snowboarding at present Dave.
Ian Stones: All the time an inspiration. The following era have an enormous gap to fill. Right here’s to your subsequent chapter.
Tracy Williamson: A unbelievable ambassador, a real legend. All the time gave 100%, all the time optimistic and supportive to the younger males coming by. You’ll be missed by so many champ.
Premiere Neige Ski Holidays: A real legend and such a gentleman when he was coaching in Sainte Foy -had time for everybody.
Ian Findlater: Dave my pal I’ve watched you through the years and you’ve got executed your nation proud. All the time one to please and provides it 100%. You’re a true skilled and a gentleman, I’m positive will see much more of you now on our TVs and identical to Chemmy, the powered to be ought to snap you up what an Ambassador.
June Partington: Thanks Dave to your inspirational instance of true sportsmanship take pleasure in now.
Sally Tidman: Thanks to your dedication. You have got impressed loads of younger folks (and doubtless older ones too) to take up snowboarding. I hope the longer term is variety to you.
Andi Smith: Superb!
Mike Kochalski: Nicely executed Dave, a unbelievable profession, you’re a credit score to the game.
Final summer season Dave introduced that Milan-Cortina 2026 can be his final Olympic Video games:
Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Picture © PlanetSKI
This was Dave’s fifth Olympic Video games since he began on the Vancouver Video games, Canada, in 2012.
On the eve of his last Olympic race in Bormio in Italy he stated “I’ve had a extremely lengthy profession, a extremely profitable profession.”
The 39-year-old slalom specialist turned the primary British alpine skier to win a World Cup race as he topped the rostrum at Kitzbuehel in 2022.
As a winner his title adorns one in all its gondolas.
Ryding & his gondola. Picture c/o Kitzbühel Tourisme
Within the 2025 World Championships he sealed GB’s greatest consequence by a male since 1934 by ending sixth.
Dave has been an amazing pal of PlanetSKI through the years and has all the time discovered the time to talk to us when requested, regardless of his busy schedule.
PlanetSKI’s James Cove & Dave Ryding. Picture © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI’s Jane Peel with Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Picture © PlanetSKI
Earlier on PlanetSKI we seemed again at his lengthy racing profession in a two-part particular:
Dave Ryding on an early household ski vacation to the Alps
Dave Ryding. Picture © PlanetSKI
Regardless of this being his final Olympic Video games he’s persevering with to race on the World Cup circuit this season and we sit up for seeing Dave convey his stellar profession to a conclusion.
He’ll then little question be spending extra time together with his spouse Mandy and their daughter, Nina.
Dave Ryding with spouse Mandy and daughter Nina in Schladming Jan 2024. Picture © PlanetSKI
Dave is massively widespread together with his fellow professionals and ski racing followers internationally.
We’ve by no means met anybody that has a foul phrase to say about The Rocket’.
He stays one of the best alpine ski racer GB has ever produced, and his standing as a ski legend each in Nice Britain and throughout the ski world is safe and unquestionable.
Many suppose it will likely be a very long time earlier than we see his like once more.
However Dave himself has one other view.
“The following era actually believes and talks about podiums prefer it’s a standard factor,” Dave stated to Ski Sunday earlier than the Video games.
“To be ranked within the prime 30 for 11 years and the highest 15 for 9 years, it was a continuing visible factor for youths to observe.
“I feel the assumption that I’ll go away with the following era is the most important factor that may come from my profession.
“I’m positive they may go on to larger and higher issues than I’ve.”
“I actually suppose the following 15 years of British snowboarding are taken care of.
“It’ll solely get increasingly thrilling.”
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