Dave Ryding makes British skiing history
Last updated on 27.05.2022
A ceremonial handover of the gondola dedicated to the first British winner of a Hahnenkamm World Cup Race
Just four months after the impressive victory of British slalom racer Dave Ryding at the Hahnenkamm World Cup Race, Ryding was ceremoniously presented with his own gondola at the Hahnenkamm lift in Kitzbühel on Friday, 27 May 2022.
Rarely has a victory by an athlete received such undivided approval among many ski fans. The affable Briton, Dave Ryding became slalom winner on the Ganslern slope in a memorable slalom in January 2022, during heavy snow. 85 years after the last British victory in the Hahnenkamm races – the last win was by Britain’s Evelyn Pinching in 1937 in the women’s downhill – Dave Ryding brought victory to the United Kingdom for the third time: the first victory was succeeded by Britain’s Gordon Cleaver in 1931 in the combined classification from the first Hahnenkamm race.
“Since the beginning of the Hahnenkamm races, Kitzbühel and the United Kingdom have been connected in a special way. The first Hahnenkamm World Cup victory by Dave Ryding strengthens this bond even further, which we are very happy about! The British market has always been of great importance to Kitzbühel Tourism, which is why we are celebrating this victory in particular,” says Dr. Viktoria Veider-Walser, Managing Director of Kitzbühel Tourism.
Dave Ryding to ride his own gondola
Fans, locals and guests- can now travel up the world-famous Hahnenkamm in the Hahnenkamm lift in Dave Ryding’s winning gondola to the top station at 1,670 meters above sea level.
At 10.30 a.m. the gondola handover was officially opened in the valley station of the Hahnenkamm lift. The star of the day, Dave Ryding, was welcomed to Kitzbühel with a ceremonial opening speech by Mag. Anton Bodner, Chairman of the Board of Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel, Mag. Christian Wörister, Member of the Board of Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel, and Dr. Michael Huber, President of the Kitzbühel Ski Club. Visibly proud, they talked about the victory they had achieved and recalled memories of the phenomenal moment four months ago. After the ascent to the top station, the gondola was presented, which will now transport guests with the inscription “Dave Ryding”. The celebration ended with fish & chips at the Hahnenkamm-Starthaus, before the afterparty for all British fans in Kitzbühel started in the evening at “The London Pub” to mark the special occasion of the British origin of the 2022 slalom winner.
The Hahnenkamm World Cup Races
The 82nd edition of the Hahnenkamm World Cup Races took place in Kitzbühel 17-23 January 2022. The world-famous event is renowned for the Streif run, which is filled with blind drops, daredevil jumps, and unforgiving twists and turns. An international roster of top athletes competed during an incredible programme of downhill ski racing, where the slick, steep track propels the competitors up to speeds of 140 kph, and the legendary Mousetrap jumpf launces racers 80m through the air.
All information on Kitzbühel can be found at www.kitzbuehel.com
