Nice Britain’s Laurie Taylor claimed a career-best fourth-place end within the opening males’s slalom occasion of the World Cup season in Levi because the British crew produced their greatest mixed efficiency within the occasion’s historical past.

Taylor, 29, led for almost all of the second run in Finland earlier than narrowly lacking out on a primary podium place, whereas veteran Dave Ryding was seventh as GB achieved two top-10 finishers in a World Cup occasion for under the second time.

The opening males’s slalom race of the season was gained by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who took the sixth World Cup victory of his profession and first representing Brazil, following his swap from Norway in 2024.

Taylor was fifteenth after the primary run however put stress on the leaders with the quickest second run, ending in a complete time of 1 minute 51.33 seconds – 0.31 seconds behind Pinheiro Braathen, who was quickest within the first leg.

France’s Noel Clement was second whereas Finland’s Eduard Hallberg claimed a primary podium of his profession, pipping Taylor to 3rd place by simply 0.04 seconds.

“It felt superb, I had no concept that was the place I used to be going to finish up,” Taylor informed BBC Sport .

“The run felt stable and in cost. I simply stored climbing [in the standings] it was fairly surreal. It is an enormous confidence increase for the remainder of the season.

“I’ve been working so exhausting for thus lengthy, so to interrupt in like that to fourth, it actually means the world.”

Reflecting on the crew’s efficiency general, GB males’s slalom coach Jai Geyer stated: “What a day.

“That is one of the best begin to the season we have had as a crew, with one thing we have by no means executed earlier than right here – two within the high seven – so we’re all pumped, nice for the crew. What a stable begin.”

It was a outstanding step ahead in Taylor’s profession, his earlier greatest World Cup end was eighth in Aspen in March 2024.

Former World Cup slalom winner Ryding, 38, additionally completed seventh in that race – the one different time the British crew had two top-10 finishers in a World Cup occasion.

Levi additionally marked the primary time the British crew had entered 4 skiers in a World Cup race, with Billy Main (twenty seventh) and Luca Carrick-Smith (DNF) additionally competing.

The race additionally marked the primary World Cup win for Brazil.

Pinheiro Braathen gained the general slalom title in 2023 whereas representing Norway, however then took a yr out of the game and returned final season, competing for Brazil, his mom’s native nation.