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.

含羞草研究社淚 know ja bitte (yes, please) and nein danke (no, thank-you),含羞草研究社� smiled Sigal, who left Saturday to join his Canadian teammates in Toronto before heading overseas.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 very excited to be going. It will be my first time in another country and first time representing Canada.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檒l race in Austria), much to his surprise and delight.

含羞草研究社淚 was just enjoying the experience (of Canadians). I wasn含羞草研究社檛 focusing on results or anything,含羞草研究社� said Sigal, who claims to have been 含羞草研究社渂orn with cross-country skis.含羞草研究社� He did start skiing at a young age 含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 chalet commemorates the achievement 含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been training with the Kelowna guys since August,含羞草研究社� said Sigal, the first winner of the Courage honour in The Morning Star含羞草研究社檚 2016 Community Leader Awards. 含羞草研究社淲e do a lot of hiking at Knox Mountain or Okanagan Park. I含羞草研究社檝e been on the snow at Sovereign since November.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淛ustin含羞草研究社檚 perseverance and ability to put his head down and get the training done is inspiring,含羞草研究社� said Coulter.

含羞草研究社淗e is generally committed to his monthly training plans, no matter the weather or how tired he might be.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚 always tell him to 含羞草研究社榣eave it all out on the course含羞草研究社� and finish with nothing left in the tank,含羞草研究社� said Coulter. 含羞草研究社淭o me, it doesn含羞草研究社檛 matter how he places but how hard he works during these races.

含羞草研究社淚f Justin is laying down across the finish line, I know he gave it all he含羞草研究社檚 got.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 just going to do my best and enjoy the experience of meeting new people, trying new food and learning a new language,含羞草研究社� he said. If that doesn含羞草研究社檛 work, Sigal will live by the Special Olympics credo, which he knows by heart:

含羞草研究社淟et me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.含羞草研究社�

The 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games will bring together more than 2,700 athletes from 107 nations. Canada含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 honourary coach.