Gillings into World Cup finals

Manx snowboardcrosser Zoe Gillings has qualified for the finals of the opening round of the World Cup.

She posted the ninth fastest time to safely make the races for the top 16 at Telluride in the United States of America.

There are six rounds in the World Cup series, the others being at Bad Gastein in Austria, Veysonnaz in Switzerland, Blue Mountain in Canada, Stoneham, also in Canada, and Valmalenco in Italy.

Last year, Zoe Gillings finished the season in 16th place overall, despite missing the opening four of seven rounds after picking up a knee injury at the Winter Olympics.

Her best result was a third place at Arosa in Switzerland.

Gillings has won a World Cup round, at Valle Nevado in Chile in 2004. She has finished on the podium six times during her career.