Media Watch: Kwame did interviews with BBC Radio London, Swedish TV and the team were covered by TV from the Island as well. The Ghana Ski Team scooped another first on their amazing journey towards Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. This time the spotlight was away from The Snow Leopard and on his team mates who entered the Comox Valley Bob Sled Race.  This time the team’s Olympian switched from competitor to coach to produce an epic result.  The first heat saw Richard ‘Manager’ Harpham and Don from Comox Valley Kayaks power the sled along the uphill course to victory over a Swiss decaled sled.  The driver Denis ‘Ski Coach’ Grigorev and Tim ‘Physio’ Allardyce were also instrumental in this solid race performance. (Are we dressing this up enough yet?!).  Tim showed his desire to wear Lycra and donned one of Kwame’s ski suits Race 2, the final, saw our heroes pit their wits against the raining champions in their ‘whacky races’ speed machine.  The Ghana Ski Team also opted for a change in the engine room replacing powerhouse Richard for some Uzbekistan Beef with our ski coach providing the gas. The final was a tense affair and was a competitive race until the coach began to blow a gasket.  The champions showed their class and smashed home the victory despite the gallant efforts of the Ghana Ski Team.

With the finishing line in site and victory beyond them Team Manager Richard did the only sensible thing and stood up in the sled waiving the Ghana Flag to ‘Claim’ the bragging rights. Kwame commented ”coach let us down, I could see it in his eyes half way up the slope, he was gone, out of the zone, nothing left in the tank”. It was excellent fun and the news then reached team HQ (the huddle) that the team had picked up best looking….team….well actually race cart.  (Thanks to Dianne of the Chamber Commerce, Sarah of Tourism Mount Washington, and Don from Comox Valley kayaks for helping with the F1 build technology).

After the races the community event moved onto to a quick breakfast of pancakes and sausage with gospel music on the Eagle FM stage.  This is the epitome of the Comox Valley Community, families, young people, olds, all involved for fun and also raising funds.  (thanks for inviting us).   Then after a quick interview with Swedish TV it was onto the main event the international between China and Swedish Ladies at Ice Hockey.

It was pretty much a full house in front of various international media agencies and a supercharged crowd.  This was the final preparation for both Sweden and China before the serious business of chasing success in the Olympics.  The team got the best of both worlds with an amazing VIP area with fine foods, alcoholic beverages, fruits and chocolates from the surrounding community as well as sitting in the stands.  The game was exciting with Sweden having the experience and bulk over China who battled well. It ended 4-2 but required some amazing goal keeping by the Chinese Goal Keeper to keep the scores in sight.

It was an historic event and was good fun to watch. Well done to the Spirit Team  (Comox Valley for making this such a great day)

Hopefully some kind and rich corporate types might be looking for good company in their match day box during the Olympic Ice Hockey. In which case contact us as we would love to attend a match!

Media Watch: Today Kwame did interviews with the largest Japanese newspaper, a German News Agency and Swedish TV.  The Observer Sport Magazine published their last ever edition featuring the Snow Leopard (sorry to see that publication end).

The Ghana Ski team finished the busy day of admin, small training session and Media engagement on Saturday with an appearance at Fat Teddy’s at the Mount Washington Alpine Lodge for their world famous Beach Party.  The team joined in with the spirit of the event with some very loud Hawaiian shirts, shorts, dark glasses.  Martin: “it was great to have some time to let our hair down and relax for a bit. We have not stopped since we got here with lots of media attention, admin, website development and other initiatives.  This was a great tonic!”.  The Snow Leopard doesn’t drink which ensured that the team did not have to walk home in the cold on this occasion.

In between dancing with his team Kwame was stopped for autographs and photos throughout the night.  The house band were amazing and the venue really pulled out the stops.  Despite a late night the team were up early the next morning to face the most beautiful blue sky mountain morning. Another day in paradise but unlike the previous couple of days at least now you could see it!

Well it has been a whirlwind 36 hours for Kwame and the Ghana Ski team having hosted a media day on Mount Washington and in the Comox Valley.  The slope team at the Mount Washington resort were magnificent again and opened the lifts early for Kwame and Denis and helped set up the race training slope for slalom training.  The list of media grew with additional requests from Australia’s Channel 9, Brazilian TV, German TV as well as several Canadian Channels and press.

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Media Watch: Kwame did an interview with Japanese TV today as well as a radio interview with Canadian Radio.

Kwame and the Ghana Ski Team attended a signing event at Ford Country in Courtenay which was well attended by lots of Leopard Fans and Paddy Power Kwame’s Army fans.  Fans got to meet their hero, get caps, posters and cards signed and generally chat in the comfort of the Ford Showroom.  The Snow Mobile was cleaned and refueled (kind donation by a very nice lady) and looked ready for more action.

Canadian TV station FMA attended to capture the mood and presenter Erin Ireland chatted to Kwame about music, fashion and art.

Kwame said “ meeting the fans was brilliant, the support we have had from the Comox Valley and Mount Washington has been heart warming stuff.  It has renewed by faith in human spirit. I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported the team so far on behalf of the team”. Besides meeting the fans the Snow Leopard also got the chance to start up the gorgeous blue Mustang GT in the showroom.  “It is surprising that he can ski with good balance given the heavy right foot he applied to the Mustang’s accelerator!!” Explained Richard MGR GST.

What does the O stand for? O my god its early! The Ghana Ski Team are heading for Vancouver after several months of frantic planning, new websites, chasing funds and training to make Kwame’s dream a reality.  The incredible fact is that for Kwame’s lieutenants,  the immediate technical team, this will be the first time that we have all been together in one place.  Fittingly enough for the man dubbed The Snow Leopard it is snowing as we leave Milton Keynes at 5.00am to head for London Gatwick.

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Its always nice to have a formal dinner that does not stand on too much ceremony. I can definitely describe the dinner at the Canada House as short, sweet and well done. It was really great to be recognized by the High Commissioner from Canada to UKas he gave the guests an insight into the heroes the Olympics has created andwhat I should expect from the Olympics as a unique athlete from Africa.

I spent a lot of time talking to media and was pleased that with seemingly the flick of a switch everyone is starting to talk about winter, the ski season and the Winter Olympics.  The dinner not only gave us a chance of experiencing Canadian cuisine but also tourism locations. I got to meet a bunch of truly unique people both in a business sense and social one.

UnitedAirlines in-flight magazine spent 2 days with me at my training base in Hemeland also around my home city of Milton Keynes.  It was good to have time to work closely with media in this way and I am looking forward to seeing Grant’s article. 

I managed to spend a considerable amount of time explaining why MK is the best city in the UK. Richard, my manager from Bedford, found this hilarious and we had a lot of fun with it. We also had the BBC London crew come and film us at Hemel whilst I was doing my training. It was good to talk about the support back home in Ghana on camera.