SNOWBOARDING Bath may have been bathed in warm sunshine on Bank Holiday Monday but Zoe Gillings' thoughts were already turning to colder climes.

The Bathampton-based snowboarder was back in full-time training at the University of Bath as she prepares for another busy winter of competition.

Monday's session at the English Institute of Sport training base was Gillings' first since she underwent keyhole surgery on her left knee, which she injured while finishing eighth at the Winter Olympics in Canada.

"I'm really happy to be back in the gym full time," she said. "I ended up damaging the cartilage and stretching the ligament in my knee but at least I injured it during the Olympics and not in the competition before.

"Looking back, I'm disappointed with my eighth-place finish. The injury didn't help but I have beaten all of the best snowboard cross athletes in the world in the last six months in one competition or another so I knew I could do it.

"I did all I could on the day, though, so I have no regrets."

During her rehabilitation, Gillings attended several corporate events with sponsors BMW, British Airways and Pokerstars but she is looking forward to "getting back on the snow" at the American venue of Telluride in December.