Manx snowboarder Zoe Gillings says she is full of confidence ahead of the next FIS World Cup round in Telluride, USA.

The British number one finished 10th in the opening round in Argentina, after being impeded in a crash with world number one Lindsey Jacobellis.

“I’m excited about racing again and hopefully I can podium in Telluride,” she told BBC Isle of Man.

Gillings is heading into a very important season, with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.

The 24-year-old continued: “It was a difficult summer, due to the financial crisis in the sport.

“I only got three days on-snow training, as opposed to the five weeks I had planned.”

Since Argentina, Gillings has had four weeks on the snow, split between Hintertux in Austria and the French resort of Portes Du Soleil.

“The last four weeks have been brilliant and I’ve worked hard on some of the more technical aspects of my racing,” she added.

Gillings has already tasted Olympic competition in Turin in 2006 and is well aware that she will have to be at the very top of her game to win a medal in Vancouver.

“Snowboard X has become much more popular since Turin,” she said. “Training has become more high-tech and there are many more talented snowboarders competing on the circuit.

“It’s going to be tough, but I’ve also introduced my own developments in my programme, so hopefully they will pay off for me.”

http://www.zoe.org.im/