Global
Warming?
that aren’t exactly ski destinations — Ghana, Jamaica, India, Puerto Rico,
Nepal and Venezuela. Here’s a look at how they’re getting there, and how
they might not.
Ski racing fans grow accustomed to the same few countries on the top of
the World Cup standings. Austria, Switzerland, France, USA — same old,
same old. Events like the Olympic Winter Games give fans of winter sports
and human achievement in general a little more color by opening spots for
athletes who may not have World Cup résumés in hand or even snow in
their home countries.
At the Vancouver 2010 Games, athletes from underdeveloped and non-snow countries, whether they have a shot at winning or not, will provide
some seasoning to the meat and potatoes we feast on every weekend on
the World Cup. At least 97 nations have athletes qualified to participate
in the Vancouver Games. Among those listed are athletes from countries
What it takes for ski racers from snowless
countries to get to the Olympic Winter
Games — or not. BY ERIC WILLIAMS
The Snow Leopard
Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah-Acheamphong, a.k.a. the Snow Leopard, has
qualified to compete in the giant slalom and slalom in Vancouver with just
about five years of skiing experience.
