GB’s Charlotte Bankes Reveals Second Operation on Collarbone
27th August 2025
The snowboard cross athlete was injured last season and is now hoping to be fit for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics next February. NEW
She suffered the initial injury in training last April just as a third snowboard cross World Cup title in four years was within her reach.
“I had to have a second surgery on the collarbone,” Bankes told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview at Soft Life Ski, an initiative that aims to increase diversity in winter sport, which has partnered with GB Snowsport.
“The operation went well, and I’ve started rehab again so I’m back in Bisham at our intensive rehab centre there working hard with the guys and it’s going well,” said Bankes.
“We just need to let the bone heal and we’re going to put the work in physically so that when I’m ready to get back on snow, and the bone is ready to get back up on snow, I’ll be ready to have fun out there.”
The 30-year-old has competed in three Winter Olympics – two representing France, a country she moved to with her family at four years old, and tat Beijing where she raced for Team GB.
Her best finish was sixth in, the mixed team snowboard cross event with Huw Nightingale in Beijing in 2022.
A medal in Italy is her main focus.
“Oh totally, that’s the goal, and that’s also why I had surgery, to be sure to be at Milan because I didn’t want to take the risk of it failing in the lead-up,” she said.
As well as rehab Bankes has attended an event that encourages diversity and inclusion in winter sport.
Bankes was at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead last weekend as it hosted the first indoor slope takeover by Soft Life Ski.
She was born in Hemel Hempstead and there was a dry ski slope on the site of the current Snow Centre.
Europe’s leading Afro-Caribbean snow sports and music festival had ski and snowboard lessons, a showcase slope for the more confident, all set to beats, with the après ski continuing in the centre’s chalet-style bar.
Free buses were laid on to encourage participation of those from black and ethnic minority communities to enjoy the slopes and the vibe with like-minded souls.
“That social part of it actually got me into it because growing up as a kid, I was just going with my friends, and then also going out and following my brothers,” said Bankes.
“And to see that’s what people are doing here, they’re coming with their friends and just meeting new people, it’s creating that social aspect, and that’s really important.”
“It’s great to see that enthusiasm about getting on the snow and just having fun and seeing people enjoying being out here,” she said of the initiative that started with seven friends going on a snowsport holiday together, growing to the 1,000-strong festival on the slopes of Laax, Switzerland last season.
See the full story on Olympic.com
Up until the injury last season was an excellent one for Bankes.
Bankes won the Crystal Globe in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.
Providing the re-hab goes well she is expected to be a favourite for an Olympic medal at the Milan-Cortina Games
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
