Dave Ryding to retire after 2026 winter season

Dave Ryding, the most accomplished alpine skier in British history, has announced that he will retire following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Nicknamed “The Rocket,” Ryding made history in 2022 when he became the first British athlete to win a World Cup alpine skiing event, claiming gold in the Kitzbühel slalom. Earlier this year, he delivered Britain’s best men’s performance at a World Championship since 1934, finishing sixth.

The upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, set for February, will be the fifth and final Olympic appearance for the 38-year-old.

“I’ve committed to giving it everything for one more season,” Ryding told BBC Sport. “It feels like the right time to finish—while my body’s still in good shape and I’m able to compete with the best. I don’t have any injuries, which is rare in this sport, and I still feel capable of pushing for the top.”

Ryding’s career is a testament to resilience and determination. He has reached the World Cup podium seven times, highlighted by his landmark victory in Austria. His most recent medal came in December 2023 with a bronze in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

What sets Ryding apart is the unorthodox path he took to the world stage. Unlike many of his rivals, he didn’t grow up skiing on alpine snow. His journey began at age six on a dry slope in Pendle, Lancashire. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he began regular training on real snow, and he continued racing on dry slopes well into his twenties.

He didn’t score his first World Cup points until he was nearly 26, and it took two more years to build on that breakthrough. But by 2017, he was standing on a World Cup podium in Kitzbühel with a silver medal, laying the foundation for his eventual triumph there five years later.

Ryding’s best Olympic result to date is ninth place in Pyeongchang in 2018—a finish he believes does not fully reflect his capabilities. With his young daughter Nina expected to be watching in Milan-Cortina, he hopes to close out his Olympic career on a high note.

“I feel like I’ve left something behind at the Games,” he admitted.

For one final season, Ryding will continue training alongside fellow British skiers Billy Major and Laurie Taylor, who are now poised to carry the torch forward. He believes the next generation has been empowered by the progress British skiing has made.

“It almost makes me laugh hearing young athletes talk about World Cup podiums as if it’s normal,” Ryding said. “That belief is something I’ve helped instill, and I can’t wait to see what the next two decades bring.”

Ryding’s influence stretches far beyond his medal haul. He’s redefined what’s possible for British athletes in a traditionally exclusive sport, proving that elite success doesn’t require a privileged background or early exposure to snowy slopes.

“He’s shown that you can come from humble beginnings, train on a plastic slope, and still reach the summit of world skiing,” one former teammate said. “His legacy is about more than results—it’s about changing what’s possible.”