After two weeks of training and rest following his epic 26th in the opening World Cup Slalom, Dave Ryding returned to competitive action in the first of two Europa Cup Slaloms in Levi on Saturday 24 November. Ryding had started in the top group of racers with bib number 15 courtesy of the great run of form he had at the end of last season. This was a different kettle of fish to the World Cup race as many of the top racers in the Slalom World were not here but it was still a good quality field with many World Cup Slalom racers.
Ryding explained that it was a hard day that did not get any easier as the lift that the race slope uses broke down. Many older racers will be chuckling at this but the 300m climb to the top of the course is not something that the modern day slalom racers are accustomed to often. Ryding is made of stern stuff and admitted on his fan page on Facebook that he "couldn't really get it together on the pitch for today so better step it up if I can tomorrow."
This is a good start to the season for Ryding and with another Europa Cup Slalom race in the morning, the season is definitely off and running for him now.
The race was won by Sweden's Axel Baeck with Matthias Hargin and Phillipp Schmid on the podium with him.
Full Results, click here (FIS-Ski.com)