Top snowboarder Zoe Gillings is heading home to the Isle of Man for a challenge of a very different kind this weekend.

She's joining the RNLI volunteers at Port St Mary on a training exercise at sea during which she will be ‘rescued.’

Zoe, who's currently ranked number four in the world at snowboard cross is no stranger to the RNLI.

Earlier this year she opened the Port St Mary annual lifeboat day, which helped to raise a staggering ?18,000 for charity.

The 23-year-old was keen to pay the station a return visit and help to raise awareness of the charity’s SOS Day on January 30th next year.

Zoe says, "I really hope people on the Isle of Man get behind RNLI SOS Day 2009 and have fun whilst raising valuable funds for charity. Without the support of the public, the charity would not be able to continue. I am a keen surfer so very much realise how important it is that we support these brave volunteers. I’m sure being 'rescued' by and waiting for the lifeboat to arrive will increase my admiration for these people who drop everything and save lives at sea at a moment’s notice."

Zoe is aiming to be the first ever British athlete to win a snowsport medal at the Olympic games, having already qualified for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.