Gillings finished eighth at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010

Snowboarder Zoe Gillings is gearing up for a frenetic climax to what has proved a testing season after heavy funding cuts to the sport.

The British number one from the Isle of Man arrived in Italy on Tuesday for Friday's World Cup event at Valmalenco.

Gillings will then return to her base in Chatel, France, before heading to Switzerland for her final World Cup competitions of the season.

"It's going to be tough but I'm going to give it my best shot," she said.

Gillings will compete in two competitions in Switzerland, after the event planned to take place in South Korea earlier in the season was rescheduled to take place in Arosa.

Both competitions will see six competitors in each race as opposed to the traditional four, with Gillings confident of success following her back-to-back wins at last month's Italian Federation Internationale event.

Gillings finished seventh in January's World Championships in La Molina

And despite all funding from UK Sport stopping at the end of March, the 25-year-old remains upbeat on winning an Olympic medal in Sochi, and has turned entrepreneur to raise the funds to continue her training programme.

"Training has been tough this season due to little finances, I've made the most of it but I have to change things quickly," she continued.

"Even though I'm in full swing for the competitive season, I am now concentrating 100% on my businesses. I am really excited and can't wait to launch my idea in the Isle of Man.

"I can't wait to return to the island, that is the location of my first big business and I am really eager to get back and launch it after the World Cup competitions."

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