So, yesterday was October 1st and apparently the first day when the central heating in millions of UK homes is switched on again. This could mean only one thing – the winter really is coming. But that means that the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics are also on the way.

Over the next few months, ski buzz will be bringing you all the news and views in the run-up to the Winter Olympics 2010. To start you off, we brought you the mascots, the best Vancouver 2010 merchandise and Team GB’s medal hopes, now our attentions turn to the competition.

Here are just a few names to look out for in Vancouver…

There is little doubt that Vancouver 2010 will produce some magic on the snow and ice. Avoiding Team GB’s stars, here are just a few of the potential Winter Olympic celebrities to keep an eye on:

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong AKA The Snow Leopard

This Glasgow-born Ghanaian has developed a cult following since learning to ski only 4 years ago while working at Milton Keynes’ artificial ski slopes. Nkrumah-Acheampong will be Ghana’s first-ever Winter Olympian when he competes in Vancouver 2010. Who knows how well he will do, but the world will be watching when Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong hits the slopes at the Winter Olympics 2010.

Bode Miller

Wherever Bode Miller goes, controversy invariably follows. After a seemingly heroic defiance at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he hiked back up hill after missing a gate, Bode Miller has split opinions all over the world. After seemingly retiring earlier this year, Miller will rejoin the US ski team for Vancouver 2010 and will undoubtedly bring determination, charisma and fireworks to the games.

Shaun White

Possibly the greatest ever snowboarder, Shaun White is also a star of skateboarding. Snowboarding gold-medallist at Torino 2006, White will be hoping to repeat this feat in Vancouver where his exploits will certainly receive attention worldwide. Lending his name to a massively successful video game, Shaun White is the golden boy of snowboarding and seems to do no wrong – will Vancouver 2010 be the perfect platform for him to shine?

Image courtesy of Iwona Kellie

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