Zoe Gillings, Britain’s No.1 female snowboarder, started her season in superb form, finishing 4th in the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in Chapelco, Argentina on Saturday 13th September 2008. Gillings qualified in 7th in the time trials on Friday, with the top 16 progressing to the quarter finals. Gillings then commandingly won both her quarter final and semi final in difficult winding conditions on the 1,200 metre long course.
In the final, against the other three top riders in the competition, Gillings unfortunately fell, and finished fourth, behind the eventual winner and world No.1, Lindsay Jacobellis from the US. Zoe was delighted with her performance - “To reach the final in my first World Cup competition of the year is really exciting. It proves I am one of the best riders in the world, and I know I can finish on the top of the podium this season.” Gillings finished 7th overall in last year’s World Cup standings, and a 4th place in Chapelco is a great start in her bid to top the standings in the 2008/09 season.
The result in Argentina confirms Gillings as one of the best riders in the world in Snowboardcross, and proves that she is a genuine medal prospect for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada in February 2010, which is her ultimate goal.
