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Unpredictable but fast and furious - it is time for the women's snowboard cross. GB's Charlotte Bankes is the current world champion and is one of their main medal hopes. Bankes, who is from Hemel Hempstead, also leads the current World Cup standings with three wins from six races.

Italy’s defending champion Michela Moioli carried their flag at the opening ceremony, and won the last pre-Olympic World Cup race so will be in confident mood.

Meanwhile, American Lindsey Jacobellis will be competing in her fifth Olympics, still trying to make amends for her first Games in 2006, when she threw away a certain gold with some ill-advised showboating. She has had an amazingly successful career – but the Olympic gold remains the glaring omission.