EASTERTON Sands skier Kit Nisbet is celebrating a landmark triumph after tasting victory in the world’s longest downhill race.

The 21-year-old, who went to Devizes School and St Augustine’s in Trowbridge, was the fastest member of the prestigious Kandahar Ski Club to finish the 15.8km Inferno downhill race in Mürren, Switzerland.

However, the gruelling race which sees over 1800 competitors reach speeds of up to 80mph, was only the final part of ‘Inferno Week’ with a host of other cross country and slalom races taking place.

And despite taking part in the week for the first time, University of Birmingham student Nisbet had a debut to remember as he claimed a haul of six club gold medals.

“I never thought that it was going to go so well.

“I did well in all of the races leading up to the Inferno and in that, I started off 1773rd and finished 79th overall and was the fastest in the K club,” said Nisbet, who is studying mechanical engineering and is also the captain of the university ski team.

“You had some time to prepare before but it was a crazy race and you had to really remember every ridge, every bend and every blind exit. There were uphill climbs too and I was quite dizzy after those.

“You couldn’t race it until you were 18 and it was always something that I wanted to do – I’ll have to go back and try to defend my title now.”

Nisbet also got the chance to meet legendary Olympic rower and fellow Kandahar Club member Sir Steve Redgrave at the prizegiving ceremony.

“He won a silver medal and joked that it was the only one he’d ever had,” said Nisbet, who has also played at Devizes Rugby Club.

The Wiltshire ski star’s family has a rich history in the sport – his grandfather John Boyagis has been the Kandahar club’s chairman and also captained the Army and Olympic ski teams in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics.

“I’ve been a member of the K club for as long as I can remember and I started learning to ski when I was three,” said Nisbet.

“My grandfather was one of the pioneers of ski racing as it’s known today and my mum (who won the Ladies’ combination race at Inferno Week) races too.

“We’re probably the only family in the country to have people race at this level in three different generations.”