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.

We arrive at Gatwick to find Denis, the team’s Uzbekistan coach loitering having arrived the evening before from Val Di Fiemme.  Ironically it appears that his night in the airport earned him more sleep than any of the rest of us.  It is great to have our band of brothers together and for Kwame and Richard it is a relief to see Denis cleared through immigration.  Kwame described it has a major miracle for Denis to be with him ready for the final leg of his Olympic Dream.

Canadian Affair, our airline sponsors pull several rabbits out of hats as the team luggage is checked on through their equally helpful partner Thomas Cook. Make no mistake without their support the team would not be traveling together and we would be struggling.   The staff were incredibly friendly and their check in screens carried a “Good Luck Snow Leopard for Vancouver 2010” message.  We load our massive kit stash, skis galore, promo postcards and kit onto their scales, and as if by magic our excess baggage disappears. We do some impromptu photos with fans and also the staff and we are away to the gate for boarding.  Canadian Affair and Thomas Cook then make all our Christmases happen at once and we are upgraded to first class. Thank you so much to them.  Foods good, service is good. Happy days.  A slight hitch as our flight is diverted via Toronto and then onward to Calgary.  There are some more Snow Leopard fan greetings as a lady is reading the previous days Daily Mail. Kwame signs it and they get a photo for the scrap book.  Only one piece of bad news as two items of team kit go missing, David’s bag and one of our Paddy Power Sponsors banner.

A short stop but with our unscheduled diversion it is clear we will not make Vancouver at a sensible time.  Our flight is rescheduled directly to Comox International airport on Vancouver Island and the end is in sight.  We arrive at the airport slightly weary after a long flight(s) but spirits soon lift as we are greeted by Sarah Nicholson of Tourism Mount Washington who has simply been amazing.  A few hugs and handshakes later we are retrieving our own mountain of luggage.

Then the amazing highlight getting to see the new Ford Sponsored FLEX All – Wheel drive Snow mobile.  The local community rallied round aware that we did not have a vehicle and also no funding. The local Ford Dealer responded brilliantly as did others to create a new standard in team vehicles.  Live Snow Leopard in Transit adorns this amazing chariot along with a picture of Kwame in his Paddy Power branded kit.  Kwame sums up the mood “ Ghana Ski Team rolling on 19” rims is the way forward”. The vehicle will mean traveling in style like an advert for ‘Pimp my ride’.