The British World Cup racers – how are the FIS points adding up?
For Dave Ryding, talking just after he had crashed out of the Slalom in Alta Badia, crossing the barrier from skiing fast in training to making a result, it was a hard time. As a one man team at the moment due to Noel Baxter being on the recovery programme and none of the rising British technical talent on the same programme, Ryding has had a hard time. Yet he has started to see the benefits of training with the Austrian Men’s World Cup Slalom team amongst others earlier in December. Training times have seen Ryding post times a mere tenth behind the likes of Reinfried Herbst – multiple World Cup race winner and winner of the 2009 Crystal Globe. “I know I can do it but I just need to get the result that will get me further up the start list,” Ryding said after Alta Badia.
And so it happened. Following on from the Alta Badia World Cup race, Ryding travelled with his coach Tristan Glasse Davies and Mike Pilarski and went back to the Europa Cup. A 13.72 result in San Vigilio was bettered with a 10.51 in Madonna di Campiglio the following day. While Noel Baxter is stall ahead of him in the points stakes, Ryding can go into the new year full of confidence and should be starting better than the 65 he started in Alta Badia in his next World Cup in Zagreb in the New Year. Baxter is currently combining a spot of training the Scottish Team with getting his own form back and should be back some time this season we hope.
The Speed Team is having a hard time at the moment. There have been some great results from the team like TJ Baldwin’s 4th place in a the Nakiska Nor Am Super G that was followed up with a 17th for Dougie Crawford. Yet on the World Cup things are still not quite making the breakthrough. One week Baldwin is in control of the starting spot and the next Crawford has got it. The competition between these two is driving them on and with Ed Drake trying to get back on terms with these two it shows or a bright future for the sport in the UK speed wise. Sadly while the likes of Snowheads (www.snowheads.com) have been great in helping raise money for TJ Baldwin, Ed Drake has not had the benefit of support and has been at times left to his own devices in terms of getting around. Nothing talks louder than results and due to injury and lake of form, Drake is still to make a start this winter. The lack of snow has not helped and he will soon be looking to bridge the gap and add to his World Cup points that he won in Chamonix last season in the Super Combined.
Baldwin has not raced since his great results in Nakiska and while he missed out on racing in Val Gardena, his confidence is high and he will be looking to get back in the groove soon. While none of the three took part in Bormio, they spent the time training, the classics in Wengen and Kitzbuehel will see some starts from the three we are led to believe.
If you are on Twitter, give the four of them a cheer up through their Twitter tags
Dave Ryding … @daveryding
Ed Drake … @eddrake
TJ Baldwin… @tj_baldwin
Dougie Crawford …. @dougiecrawford
And do not forget to give Chemmy Alcott a cheer as well…. @chemmyski
Also we are on there…@RacerReady
