The China Mail - Britain's Ryding thrives at 'home-from-home' for sixth in slalom

Ryding was 13th fastest after the first leg in Austria, before turning on the afterburners in the second, taking the lead as six higher-ranked skiers all failed to better him.

The Briton, a firm fan favourite in Austria, led the raucous 20,000-strong, flag-waving crowd packed in around the finish area in a boisterous rendition of Liverpool football club's anthem "You'll never walk alone" after finishing his run.

An affirmed Reds fan, Ryding then flexed his muscles, played air guitar on a ski and even attempted a samba dance as a host of rivals fell by the wayside, notably reigning champion Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway, Switzerland's Daniel Yule, Austrian Fabio Gstrein and Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen.

"It's my best ever, at 38 years old, it's a crazy day, crazy good," he said after eventually finishing sixth in the race won by Switzerland's Loic Meillard.

"I always thought I could go better than I've done before, that was the goal for today. Easier thought than done," said Ryding.

"A really strong day in the end with six, I can't ask for too much more."

Ryding said his crowd-pleasing antics in the leader's chair were well merited.

"I've not had a green light all season. It's been a tough year but I kept fighting, the whole team kept believing," he said.

"When you see the green light, you have to enjoy it because we put so much effort in. We're away from our families so, so long in the season.

"So to see the green light, I wanted to really enjoy it because let's be honest, it's probably my last world champs for sure."

- 'Like the energy, passion' -

Ryding, who has been based out of the Austrian resort of Gurgl for the last eight years, said he seemed to be "everyone's second favourite skier wherever I go".

"Austria is kind of like my home from home. It's just nice. Whenever I'm in Austria, I feel good. Whenever you come to a race, there are loads of fans. I like the energy. I like the passion."

Ryding's previous best at a worlds was a ninth spot at Are in 2019, followed by an 11th in 2017 and a 13th two years ago.

He has also taken part in four Winter Olympics, his best result a ninth-placed finish at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Ryding, who learned to ski while dodging sheep droppings on a dry slope in northwest England, did not rule out being in the running for a fifth Olympic appearance, with next year's Games scheduled for Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo.

"If you'd have asked me before the second run, I'd have wanted to punch you, but I don't know!" he said, having not started ski race training on snow until he was 21.

"It's getting really difficult, but somehow I'm still able to put out good performances. I trust in my technique and I've worked a lot on that so I think that's why I can still do it at my age because I'm very solid but it's a long way away."

Ryding said he had had "no respite" since he was 18, having gone on to pick up seven World Cup podium finishes including a slalom victory in Kitzbuehel in 2022.

"I've been living on the road so it's a testament to my dedication to the sport and if I'm able to do another year then yeah, it's not easy."

He also swerved any comparison with Lindsey Vonn, the US star who's made a comeback in the speed disciplines at the age of 40, saying slalom was an altogether different discipline.

"To be so focused for two runs is really difficult," he said of the shortest technical event.

"The mental intensity at my age is tough and I think that's why slalom skiers don't go to 40.

"I have no real aspirations to be racing at 40 because it's tough as hell!"

Ryding added: "My life is dictated by a red and a green light. So if it's green by a hundredth, it's awesome.

"If it's red by a hundredth, it's not a good day. But I really enjoyed it and that's the important thing at my age: to enjoy the good times because it is tough. But I'm happy I can still do it."

A.Zhang--ThChM