Justin Sigal has been boning up on his cross-country skiing abilities and his limited German.

Sigal, 27, from Vernon, will represent Canada in cross-country skiing at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which begin Tuesday in the Austrian communities of Graz, Schladming, Ramsau and Styria.

香蕉视频直播淚 know ja bitte (yes, please) and nein danke (no, thank-you),香蕉视频直播� smiled Sigal, who left Saturday to join his Canadian teammates in Toronto before heading overseas.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very excited to be going. It will be my first time in another country and first time representing Canada.香蕉视频直播�

Getting to the World Winter Games has been a four-year process for Sigal.

He started at a 2014 regional event in Kamloops, where his results qualified him for the provincial finals the following year. At the B.C. championships, Sigal香蕉视频直播檚 results were enough to earn him a spot on the provincial team for the 2016 Canadian Winter Games in Corner Brook. In Newfoundland, Sigal won gold and silver in the 2.5- and 5-kilometre classic events (the same events he香蕉视频直播檒l race in Austria), much to his surprise and delight.

香蕉视频直播淚 was just enjoying the experience (of Canadians). I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 focusing on results or anything,香蕉视频直播� said Sigal, who claims to have been 香蕉视频直播渂orn with cross-country skis.香蕉视频直播� He did start skiing at a young age 香蕉视频直播� was named Most Improved Skier in the Jackrabbits program at age 10 at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, where a ski mounted on the wall inside the centre香蕉视频直播檚 chalet commemorates the achievement 香蕉视频直播� before deciding to try downhill skiing in 2006.

That lasted for six years before Sigal returned to the cross-country trails.

He is one of 20 athletes from B.C. on the 108-member Canadian squad. He香蕉视频直播檚 joined by fellow Okanagan cross-country skiers Tracey Melesko and Francis Stanley, and wax technician/coach Garth Vickers, all from Kelowna, and coach Ray Huson of Penticton.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been training with the Kelowna guys since August,香蕉视频直播� said Sigal, the first winner of the Courage honour in The Morning Star香蕉视频直播檚 2016 Community Leader Awards. 香蕉视频直播淲e do a lot of hiking at Knox Mountain or Okanagan Park. I香蕉视频直播檝e been on the snow at Sovereign since November.香蕉视频直播�

Sigal has been working at Sovereign with coach Dudley Coulter for the past four years.

香蕉视频直播淛ustin香蕉视频直播檚 perseverance and ability to put his head down and get the training done is inspiring,香蕉视频直播� said Coulter.

香蕉视频直播淗e is generally committed to his monthly training plans, no matter the weather or how tired he might be.香蕉视频直播�

Sigal, who holds down a shift as a cashier at a Vernon Tim Hortons, usually trains about seven-to-eight hours per week. He has completed more than 300 hours of training between the 2016-17 dryland and on-snow seasons. Sigal is a regular at Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 Snap Fitness, where he works with personal trainer Chelsea May.

Coulter believes Sigal can do exceptionally well in Austria as long as he works hard on the course.

香蕉视频直播淚 always tell him to 香蕉视频直播榣eave it all out on the course香蕉视频直播� and finish with nothing left in the tank,香蕉视频直播� said Coulter. 香蕉视频直播淭o me, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter how he places but how hard he works during these races.

香蕉视频直播淚f Justin is laying down across the finish line, I know he gave it all he香蕉视频直播檚 got.香蕉视频直播�

Sigal, whose parents, Les and Jackie, will be in Austria rooting for their son, will arrive in Austria wearing his Canadian team jacket. He香蕉视频直播檒l wear his Canadian race suit underneath his Canadian warm-up pants 香蕉视频直播� which he香蕉视频直播檒l remove from his Canadian roll-on luggage bag and put in his Canadian backpack 香蕉视频直播� and give it his all. Cross country skiing begins Saturday.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just going to do my best and enjoy the experience of meeting new people, trying new food and learning a new language,香蕉视频直播� he said. If that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work, Sigal will live by the Special Olympics credo, which he knows by heart:

香蕉视频直播淟et me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.香蕉视频直播�

The 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games will bring together more than 2,700 athletes from 107 nations. Canada香蕉视频直播檚 team is the third-largest at the Games.

Athletes will compete in six sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.

Canadian Olympic and World Championship gold medalist figure skater Jamie Sal茅 will serve as Canada香蕉视频直播檚 honourary coach.