蜜芽传媒

GB's Dave Ryding and Billy Major compete in the men's skiing slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Ryding, who is Team GB's captain, came the first British alpine skier to win a World Cup race in 55 years of the competition just three weeks ago at the Kitzbuhel men鈥檚 slalom event. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a ninth place at the Olympics and there is no point going for another ninth,鈥� said a bullish Ryding. 鈥淚 may as well try to go better 鈥� and with slalom the only way is to risk it. There is no reason why not.鈥� He鈥檒l be joined in this event by 25-year-old Major who is currently ranked the 44th- best slalom skier in the world. Reaching the top 30 would be a huge achievement but whatever happens on the 鈥業ce River鈥� course, Major has brains to fall back on 鈥� he was studying for a degree in neuroscience at Manchester University before he took up skiing full-time.

The reigning slalom world champion is Norway鈥檚 experienced Sebastian Foss-Solevag but he鈥檚 currently second in the World Cup slalom standings behind his 21-year- old compatriot Lucas Braathen. The exciting Braathen is a slalom star and has firmly set his sights on a medal. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 ski at an Olympics for top 15 or top 10,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 top three or nothing.鈥� Frenchman Clement Noel knows exactly what Braathen is talking about 鈥� he finished fourth in this event in PyeongChang and agonisingly missed out on bronze by just 0.04 seconds.