Britain's lone World Cup Alpine racer Dave Ryding finished 2014 on a high with two top 20 finishes in successive slalom races just before Christmas at Are in Sweden then Madonna di Campiglio in Italy. The FIS point winning performances ended a year in which 28 year old Ryding also took 17th place in the Olympic slalom at Sochi.
The Delancey British Ski and Snowboard team racer finishing 16th overall in the World Cup night Slalom in Madonna di Campiglio three days before Christmas, posting the second fastest time in the second run, faster than the likes of Benni Raich and Marcel Hirscher.
The Italian result followed Ryding's 17th place in the World Cup Slalom in Are the previous week, with a starting bib of 39, having been training immediately before up in the Arctic Circle at the little known Finnish resort of Salla.
"It was a great night in Madonna, a great venue and a great atmosphere," said Dave, "I'm chuffed to be so confident in my skiing to be able to have a go at the second run and slot in the second best time."
The first week of 2015 has seen Ryding continue with his full-on schedule and the first weekend of the season saw him secure a 2nd and 4th place at the Europa Cup Slalom Races in Chamonix. On Friday under the floodlights and with wet conditions, Ryding was in 2nd place after the first run, but dropped down into 4th after the second run. Saturday's race was moved to earlier in the day, and Ryding skied well to take 2nd place in a strong field.
Unfortunately the World Cup Slalom in Zagreb, Croatia yesterday where Ryding had a starting bib of 38th went less well and he failed to qualify for the second run.
"Pretty disappointing evening all in all tonight. I didn't get into the course at all. Let myself slip back into my old habits and coupled that with some mistakes... so a pretty poor showing," he commened on social media.
Ryding, who races exclusively on Fischer equipment and is a member of the famed Kandahar Ski Club, begins 2015 ranked 21st in the world in the event. He races again in four days' time,