Snow joke! Brit Dave wins gold
DAVE RYDING admits he is still pinching himself after becoming the first British skier to win a gold medal in the 55-year history of the Alpine World Cup.
Ryding celebrated being named in Great Britain’s squad for next month’s Beijing Winter Olympics – his fourth Games – by clinching first place in the Kitzbuhel Slalom ahead of two Norwegian rivals.
The Lancastrian kissed the snow after he crossed the finish line, having won the biggest slalom event on the men’s circuit.
He said: “There’s life in the old dog yet.
“I’m 35 now but I never stopped believing, I never stopped trying.”
Ryding was sixth after his first run but earned a remarkable victory with a final run of 49.86sec, becoming the oldest winner of a men’s World Cup slalom.
Norway’s Lucas Braathen finished 0.38sec behind, with his compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen third.