Snowboard Champion Zoe Gillings-Brier Inks Sponsorship with PokerStars
On Oct. 2, PokerStars announced a sponsorship deal with Isle of Man Olympic Snowboard Cross champion Zoe Gillings-Brier.
Known to be Great Britain's most successful Snowboard Cross athlete ever, Gillings-Brier started surprising the world at the age of 15, when she finished sixth in the European Youth Olympics in Finland.
Since then, Gillings-Brier has managed to put together an impressive number of remarkable results that include seven World Cup podiums, three Winter Olympic Games, a first-place finish in the German National Championships in 2006, and the title of Athlete of the Year by the British Olympic Association for two consecutive years in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
I love the adrenaline rush I get from snowboarding and often get the same sense of that when playing poker. — Gillings-Brier
"We are delighted to be able to support Zoe as she prepares for the 2018 Winter Olympics," said Eric Hollreiser, Director of Corporate Communications at PokerStars. "Zoe is an extremely focused and determined athlete, and we are excited to be a part of her latest quest for Olympic success."
In the Isle of Man to participate in the United Kingdom and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), Gillings-Brier spoke about her involvement with the world's largest online poker site, stating that she is "extremely grateful to PokerStars for supporting me on my journey to the 2018 Olympic Games. The Isle of Man is a small Island in the Irish Sea, so it makes me so proud to be supported by a local Manx company while representing the Isle of Man training and competing around the world."
The 2015 UKIPT Isle of Man came to a close on Sunday with Daniel Stacey's victory in the Main Event
"I love the adrenaline rush I get from snowboarding and often get the same sense of that when playing poker," Gillings-Brier said. "I love the chance to compete and improve my skills."
During her appearance at the UKIPT, Gillings-Brier joined the field to play in the Main Event and in the Charity Tournament, where she finished 18th out of 110 players.
While in the Isle of Man for the event, Gillings-Brier met with PokerNews' Sara Herring to talk about her life as a snowboard champion, her plans for the future, and an interesting venture she just launched in the U.K. Check out the video below for the full interview:
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