Rocket Ryding Wiki
Rocket Ryding Biography
Who is Rocket Ryding ?
He is now one of Britain’s contenders for Winter Olympic success after becoming the first UK skier to win an Alpine World Cup event.
But unlike his competitors who have been on the slopes since they were just two years old, Dave ‘the Rocket’ Ryding’s path to stardom was not so easy.
The 35-year-old from Chorley, Lancashire, learned the trade from him dodging sheep dung on a £3.50-a-session dry slope in nearby Pendle and didn’t snow ski until he was 13.
And before his historic slalom win in Austria was confirmed, the self-proclaimed ‘old fart’ balanced training six days a week with running a café in Preston with his fiancée, former Dutch skier Mandy Dirkzwageron. .
The years of hard work and hard work were evident when he took a knee to celebrate the victory on Saturday.
He previously recounted how his parents ‘sacrificed his life’ for him when he was young, and the family did what they could to support his dream.
His mother worked as a hairdresser, while his father changed jobs from market trader to gas engineer for more money.
Ryding didn’t leave home until he was in his late 30s as he tried to make an impact in the sport and spent years on the road with his coach.
Ryding was set to marry former Dutch skier Mandy Dirkzwageron
In an interview in 2019, he revealed the huge commitment that it took to become a professional skier.
He said he would go out to practice for four hours early in the morning before physical training in the afternoon up to six days a week.
“I wasn’t really exposed to it [snow], but the old sand from the north shows up,” Ryding told The Times.
Ryding spent his teenage years competing for the English alpine ski team, but his parents only allowed him to pursue skiing full-time once he finished his A-Levels at 18.
Carl and Shirley gave his son a year to see how far he could go and he ended up being selected for the British team at the age of 19.
“At first, when he was around, they were like ‘oh, this is just the new Eddie the Eagle,’” Ryding recalled.
“I think now they realize that Eddie was a bit of a joke compared to the professionalism that we’re trying to bring to the team.”
His first big success came in 2017 when he stood on the World Cup podium, the first Briton since Konrad Bartelski in 1981.
He replicated this in 2019 and 2021 and Saturday’s gold was exactly five years after his success in 2017.
Aside from skiing, he co-owns the Boskins Cafe in Tarleton, near Southport, and had been preparing to train as a barista.
He created his own company Ski Racing Supplies and has been CEO for 22 years. His LinkedIn notes that he turned pro 16 years ago.
Ryding was set to marry former Dutch skier Mandy Dirkzwageron on top of a mountain in Austria.
But the pandemic hit and plans were delayed, and Dirkzwageron was left in charge of the cafe while her husband competed.
On Saturday, his routine paid off when he became the first British skier to win an Alpine World Cup gold medal.
Speaking after his victory, he said “it’s natural for everyone to talk” about his chances in Beijing after his success in Austria.
He admitted that “the pressure and the expectation have increased”, but added: “The Olympics will not define me.”
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Now, Ryding is also seen as a serious medal contender for next month’s Winter Olympics and said he has felt more pressure.
He said: ‘You win a World Cup three weeks before the Olympics and it’s natural for everyone to talk. Obviously I have shown how good I am this year.
“The pressure and the expectation have increased, but the Olympics will not define me. I’ve had an incredible race and winning one has taken a weight off my shoulders.
Who knows, two or three weeks still feels like a long way. I will do my best to keep this old platform in top shape.
Ryding on Saturday moved up from sixth after the first race of the men’s slalom to finish 0.38sec ahead of Norway’s Lucas Braathen in second place.
He sparked raucous celebrations among his support staff and the respected skiing world.
He said: ‘It means more to me than anything else when your peers and fellow competitors, who you compete with week after week, show their respect for what you have achieved.
A Brit has never done this before and they know how difficult it is and where I come from. Now everyone knows my story.
Ryding’s victory came a day after he was confirmed in the squad for his fourth Winter Olympics in Beijing.
He also boasted of earlier success in Kitzbuhel
He also boasted of earlier success in Kitzbuhel, having become the first British alpine skier to reach a World Cup podium finish in 36 years when he took silver in 2017.
He admitted his timely run underlined the change in attitude towards British snow sports since its first Games in Vancouver in 2010.
This week, governing body GB Snowsport named a team of 18 skiers and three snowboarders for the Games.
Ryding hopes his success will be a significant factor in the continued growth of the sport in the UK.
He said: ‘The whole British winter sports scene has undergone a real revolution since my first Winter Olympics, and we finally got to the stage where we have a strong federation.
His own coffers will be bolstered by a 100,000 euro (£83,715) winner’s check from one of the Alpine circuit’s most prestigious events.
He continued: ‘For me, the important thing is to see the next generation come.
‘You’re judged by what the next generation thinks of you, and we’re certainly not seen as a laughing stock anymore.
“If I can light a fire, I still remember seeing Alain Baxter in Salt Lake City and the buzz and something inside of me saying he was amazing.”
He added: “If I’ve had that effect on another little kid somewhere, then I’m doing my job.”
Following his win on Saturday, Ryding became the oldest winner of a World Cup event at 35 and earned the biggest payout of his career.
He said: ‘I’m lucky now as I’ve been in the top 15 for a living. I’m not a footballer
Soccer players earn more in a week than I do in a year. But I’m not complaining. If you’re going to win one for prize money, it’s Kitzbuhel.
‘I’m a tight ass so I don’t know what I’ll spend it on. Maybe I don’t need to work another year in my life.’
Quick and Facts
- Dave ‘The Rocket’ Ryding said ‘it’s natural for everyone to talk’ about his chances
- The 35-year-old from Chorley, Lancashire, said that the ‘pressure has ramped up’
- He added he ‘won’t be defined by an Olympics’ and was happy with a world title
Source: https://wikisoon.com/
