Kimberley's Josh Dueck is staring his 2011 ski season the same way he ended the Olympic season - on the podium.

Dueck earned a silver this weekend at a World Cup race at Arte Terme, Italy in the giant slalom race.

His career best result in a World Cup giant slalom race is a 10th place in Roll Rinn, AUT, last season. Dueck crossed the finish line with a time of two minutes, 39.27 seconds.

The skier, who competes in the men's sitting category, has had success in downhill and slalom in recent years. He was crowned IPC World Champion in downhill in 2009 and won a silver medal in the slalom event at the Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games.

"I'm a little bit surprised about today's result. I knew that my giant slalom skills had improved over the summer but at the same time at the beginning of the World Cup season I didn't expect to be on the podium. I was more aiming for a couple of top five finishes," said Dueck.

"With my fourth place Friday I knew I had it in me to be on the podium, especially after my second run that day," added Dueck, who had the fastest second run in Friday's giant slalom event.

Sunday's event was scheduled to take place Saturday but because of Mother Nature's failure to co-operate, the second run was postponed until Sunday morning.

Dueck also had a great start to the season at Nor Am events at Copper Mountain in the States, where Dueck won gold in the downhill and a bronze in the giant slalom. He credited solid pre-season training with his early success.

Dueck skis out of the Silver Star Resort in Vernon but still has many ties to Kimberley where he was born and raised. His parents live in Cranbrook.