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.

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very excited to be going. It will be my first time in another country and first time representing Canada.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檒l race in Austria), much to his surprise and delight.

害羞草研究所淚 was just enjoying the experience (of Canadians). I wasn害羞草研究所檛 focusing on results or anything,害羞草研究所� said Sigal, who claims to have been 害羞草研究所渂orn with cross-country skis.害羞草研究所� He did start skiing at a young age 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 chalet commemorates the achievement 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been training with the Kelowna guys since August,害羞草研究所� said Sigal, the first winner of the Courage honour in The Morning Star害羞草研究所檚 2016 Community Leader Awards. 害羞草研究所淲e do a lot of hiking at Knox Mountain or Okanagan Park. I害羞草研究所檝e been on the snow at Sovereign since November.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淛ustin害羞草研究所檚 perseverance and ability to put his head down and get the training done is inspiring,害羞草研究所� said Coulter.

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

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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 always tell him to 害羞草研究所榣eave it all out on the course害羞草研究所� and finish with nothing left in the tank,害羞草研究所� said Coulter. 害羞草研究所淭o me, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter how he places but how hard he works during these races.

害羞草研究所淚f Justin is laying down across the finish line, I know he gave it all he害羞草研究所檚 got.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just going to do my best and enjoy the experience of meeting new people, trying new food and learning a new language,害羞草研究所� he said. If that doesn害羞草研究所檛 work, Sigal will live by the Special Olympics credo, which he knows by heart:

害羞草研究所淟et me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.害羞草研究所�

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