Three years ago a local lad called Ryan Regez caught a plane to China. He was off to the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He returned to Wengen a month later with the gold medal, and enjoyed a hero’s welcome.

Last month he packed his bags again and headed for St Moritz, a few hours away by train. The Freestyle Skiing World Championships were taking place there. This time Ryan returned to Wengen with not one, but two gold medals. His ‘official’ homecoming took place this afternoon, and the whole village congregated at the Figeller bar at the bottom of the nursery slope.

The kids from Wengen ski club formed a guard of honour.

We knew there’d be some sort of grand entrance, but nobody knew exactly what was planned. We got a clue when the cable car stopped immediately above the bar.

The doors opened, and out jumped Ryan attached to a winch cable.

The cable cars are quite high up, so it took a while to winch him down.

Eventually he neared the ground.

A quick run through the guard of honour.

And here he is.

Lots of interviews, lots of people to thank.

A super afternoon, bravo Ryan.

Wengen is pretty much closing down now, and the summer season will start at the beginning of May. We’re off to the UK for a few weeks tomorrow.