BILLY Morgan will compete for the first time since the Winter Olympics next week

The 25 year-old snowboarder from Shirley has put his knee operation on hold so heads to the US Open tomorrow with the brace that helped him impress at Sochi without an anterior cruciate ligament.

Morgan, who finished tenth in the Slopestyle final three weeks ago, will be competing at the US Open, the world’s premier snowboarding event.

Now in its 32nd year, the US open is being held at Vail mountain, Colorado for the second time.

The week-long tournament begins on Monday.

Morgan said: “I’m a competition rider, that’s where my talents lie. I will continue to compete in World Championship rounds, the British championship and hopefully other competitions like the X Games and I’m now off to America to compete against the world’s best.”