Dave Ryding, Britain’s most successful alpine skier, has announced his retirement following the upcoming 2025/26 season. The slalom specialist will round off his impressive skiing career at his 5th Winter Olympics, the Milano Cortina Games in February 2026, where he’ll aim to beat his personal best ninth-place finish from Pyeongchang 2018.
Nicknamed ‘The Rocket’, Ryding has carved his name into British sporting history. In 2022, he became the first British skier to win a World Cup gold medal at the prestigious Kitzbühel slalom. He continued to build on that success in the 2024/25 season, finishing sixth overall in the World Championship standings – the best result for a British skier in over 90 years.
Unlike most top ski athletes, Ryding didn’t grow up on snow. He was introduced to skiing at the Pendle dry slope in Lancashire, near his hometown of Chorley. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he began skiing regularly in the mountains.
After a successful start on the dry slope circuit, Ryding made a late breakthrough onto the World Cup stage at the age of 26 in 2009. He has since achieved 7 World Cup podium finishes and has established himself as a consistent force on the international slalom circuit. Now 38, he remains at the top of his game and has his eyes set on both an Olympic medal and the title of the oldest World Cup slalom skier on a podium.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ryding said:
“Everything feels right now to draw a line after the Olympics while my body’s good. I’m still at the top of the sport and still able to compete with the best. I still feel I can go all in.”
Ryding’s journey, from a Lancashire dry slope to the Olympic stage, has inspired a new generation of British skiers. His remarkable career is a story of determination, commitment and a true love of the sport. As a trailblazer for British alpine skiing, his legacy will live on long after his final race.
We wish Dave the best of luck in his final season and will be cheering him on, alongside teammates Billy Major and Laurie Taylor, as they prepare for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Thank you, Dave!
Career Highlights to Date: Dave Ryding’s Top Results
Dave Ryding’s World Cup Results – Top 10 Finishes
| Position | Location | Date | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2022 | Slalom |
| 2nd | Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2017 | Slalom |
| Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2023 | Slalom | |
| Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2024 | Slalom | |
| Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Feb 2022 | Slalom | |
| 3rd | Madonna di Campiglio, Italy | Dec 2023 | Slalom |
| Adelboden, Switzerland | Jan 2021 | Slalom | |
| 4th | Gurgl, Austria | Nov 2023 | Slalom |
| Madonna di Campiglio, Italy | Dec 2018 | Slalom | |
| 5th | Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2024 | Slalom |
| Val d’Isère, France | Dec 2021 | Slalom | |
| 6th | Levi, Finland | Nov 2016 | Slalom |
| Madonna di Campiglio, Italy | Dec 2017 | Slalom | |
| 7th | Flachau, Austria | Jan 2021 | Slalom |
| Gurgl, Austria | Nov 2024 | Slalom | |
| Aspen, USA | Mar 2024 | Slalom | |
| Zagreb, Croatia | Jan 2018 | Slalom | |
| 8th | Alta Badia, Italy | Dec 2024 | Slalom |
| Wengen, Switzerland | Jan 2019 | Slalom | |
| Aspen, USA | Mar 2017 | Slalom | |
| 9th | Val d’Isère, France | Dec 2024 | Slalom |
| Kitzbühel, Austria | Jan 2018 | Slalom | |
| Schladming, Austria | Jan 2019 | Slalom | |
| 10th | Schladming, Austria | Jan 2017 | Slalom |
| Alta Badia, Italy | Dec 2020 | Slalom |
Dave Ryding’s World Championships Results – Top 10 Finishes
| Position | Location | Date | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Saalbach, Austria | 2025 | Slalom |
| 9th | Åre, Sweden | 2019 | Slalom & Team Parallel |
Dave Ryding’s Winter Olympics Results – Top 10 Finishes
| Position | Location | Date | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | PyeongChang, South Korea | 2018 | Team Parallel |
| 9th | PyeongChang, South Korea | 2018 | Slalom |
