Italian job is no problem for the downhill dynamo (From Gazette Series)

Italian job is no problem for the downhill dynamo

JUNIOR ski star Liam Pemberton scored an incredible competition victory recently as he stole the show at a top Italian resort with a winning margin of awesome proportions.

Pemberton, 15, is already an established skier, but his latest success on the slopes has set him up for a possible future as a professional in Italy. It's all a long way from Cam, his home town, but the young Rednock School pupil has already made a big impression overseas.

Pemberton, who has been skiing since he was nine, took part in the All-Comers Giant Slalom Race at the Santa Caterina resort on March 19. This race is traditionally open to all residents at the resort, and it always has a large turnout.

This time round, there were 50 competitors in the race, which is open to all ages and sexes, with age groups suitably divided up.

Racing in the 12-16-year-old division, Pemberton blitzed his opponents in the contest to set up a staggering lead at the head of the pack, eventually crossing the finish line clear of any other skier. The real revelation was in his winning time, however. Pemberton had won in 34 seconds dead, with the second-placed racer finishing in 36.08 - a huge two second gap that is extremely impressive in the world of giant slalom. With the third-placed skier coming in at a little over 37 seconds, Pemberton's achievement in this exhibition race was illustrated as an unusually large gap in times highlighted the triumph.

The win was even more spectacular considering that the Cam flyer was up against up-and-coming ski school students from across the globe in what was a multi-national race involving some huge talent.

But Pemberton's win at Santa Caterina was all about that two second gap, which enabled him to receive the All-Comers Cup, and which has made many of Italy's ski experts take an interest in his progress.

An ardent sportsman, Pemberton plays rugby for Thornbury and cricket for Oldbury-on-Severn, although the thrill of skiing has emerged as his principal passion.

Having been on the slopes for six years, he has developed something of a love affair with Italy, and has never skied in any other country.

His coach, Romana Testorelli, taught him everything he knows about the sport and guided him through this latest conquest. Testorelli is no stranger to top competitions, and is the cousin of the former world giant slalom champion Deborah Compagnoni.

Pemberton has already received offers to move to Italy and train to become a professional, and it would appear that a major decision lies on the horizon for the youngster as he contemplates whether or not to take up the sport full-time. His father, Murray, has been with him throughout his time on the slopes, and is a great believer in his talents. He said: "Liam has to make the decision himself. It's all about what he wants to do - he is good at all sports.

"There is certainly potential for him to go to Italy and train to eventually become a professional skier. But it has to be his decision."