Snowboarder Torah Bright has been chosen to carry the Australian flag during the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Bright is said to be on the favourites at the half-pipe event at which she will begin competition next Thursday.

Already a two-time Olympian, the twenty0three-year-old took fifth place at the 2006 Games in Italy.

In recent years, she has dominated the pro competitions although her preparations for the Vancouver Games are said to be compromised due to two concussions as well as limited competition this season.

The snowboarder is one of the very few Australians who make a real living from the sport and benefit from the support of a major sponsor.

She also has her own line of snowboards and clothing and has been featured in a video game as well.

Bright said about the nomination to carry the Australian flag: “It’s incredible, it’s a huge honour and I am just excited for tomorrow night to walk out there. I really wish that everyone could hold this flag.”

The members of Bright’s family are no strangers to winter sports in Australia. Her sister Rowena, who is a skier, participated at the 2002 Games and her brother Ben happens to be her coach as well as guiding 15-year-old Olympic athlete Scott James, also a snowboarder.

Meanwhile, it emerged earlier today that the woman who is considered to be the best female skier in history might have to skip the Games. Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, revealed at a news conference that she injured her shin during training in Austria on February 3. The injury is said to be so painful that she may not walk without the use of a boot.

Voon, who dominates the ski disciplines of downhill and super-G, had also missed the 2006 winter games in Turin due to an injury.

As for good news, Vancouver’s Cypress Mountain is said to have received a very generous snow fall, thus giving much need hope to organizers who have been struggling with an unseasonably warm winter as well as poor snow falls until now.