A TALENTED Great Yarmouth teenager is the toast of the slopes after he secured government cash to hopefully help him become a top skier.Joshua Staffieri so impressed instructors at the Norfolk Ski Club when he donned skis for the first time he was immediately put forward for the Gifted and Talented funding.

A TALENTED Great Yarmouth teenager is the toast of the slopes after he secured government cash to hopefully help him become a top skier.

Joshua Staffieri so impressed instructors at the Norfolk Ski Club when he donned skis for the first time he was immediately put forward for the Gifted and Talented funding.

And as well the securing the funding for training, the 18-year-old has gone on to become a registered competent skier in half the time it takes most people to learn the ropes of the winter sport.

Joshua's ski instructor now says that he could become king of the slopes - only three months after he took up skiing.

The catering student went to the Trowse-based ski club in December as part of a Yarmouth College trip to promote sports activities.

Sally Tomlinson, club ski instructor, said as soon as Joshua hit the piste it was quite obvious that he was a natural at skiing. She said: “He just stood out head and shoulders from anyone else. Joshua could go on to achieve anything in skiing if he is willing to put the work in.”

Nick Cook, Yarmouth College sports co-ordinator, said that Joshua was a prime example of the college's programme of getting youngsters involved in as many sports and activities as possible.

Joshua said: “I just seemed to find skiing easy from the start. I would like to work in a ski resort as a chef.”