Ramesh Ferris can't hide his smile when he talks about his recent trip to the Haywood Para-Nordic Cross Country Ski Nationals held in Canmore, Alta.

Ferris mingled with the top para-nordic athletes in the world and across Canada, many of whom are doing their final preparations for the upcoming Paralympics later this month.

"It was just an amazing experience to just be in the arena of such amazing athletes,” Ferris said.

Ferris said it was inspiring to see other athletes who have overcome personal obstacles for their love of sport.

He saw athletes who were visually impaired skiing with a guide and people who had lost limbs and continued to pursue skiing.

One of the most inspiring for Ferris, was a man who had chosen to amputate his arm to prevent the spread of cancer to the rest of his body. Now cancer free, the athlete is thriving in para nordic skiing.

"It was just really exciting to see people with varying limitations,” Ferris said.

After his events, Ferris was able to take in the visually impaired skiers, who work their way along the track on the direction of a guide.

Some skiers are totally blind, and others have tunnel vision.

The event is a true testament of the bond between the guide and the skier.

About 25-30 athletes participated in the races this past weekend, Ferris estimates.

Ferris was part of the developmental category for sit skiing.

He competed in two different races, the first he had no competition, but in the second he raced against two other athletes and came out first.

"To me it was very exciting to have other athletes in my category,” he said.

Like Ferris, the other athletes were just starting out. One had begun

the sport in November like himself, and the other was in a sit-ski for the third time.

For Ferris, it was the start of big things to come. After his races he had the chance to speak with other athletes and coaches from across Canada and Russia and get some tips.

"A lot of them that participated were high end athletes,” Ferris said.

One of the standouts of the event was the Russian team, who used the races as their final preparations for the Paralympics.

"The Russians dominated the race,” Ferris said.

After the weekend, Ferris was able to offer some Paralympic predictions, based on what he saw.

"I think people will see the Russians on the podium for the Paralympics.”

For his 2.5-kilometre sit ski race, Ferris finished in 11 minutes. He says for comparison, the Russian teams did the same race in six minutes.

"This event has really inspired me to want to continue,” Ferris said.

His trip marks the first time the Yukon has ever sent a para-nordic athlete to a national event.

The experience has given Ferris an outlook of where he needs to get to in order to become competitive in para-nordic skiing.

"I realize I have a lot of work ahead of me,” Ferris said.

The work includes getting fitted for proper equipment, and his own custom sit ski to use for the next season.

"I need different equipment,” Ferris said.

Seeing what other athletes were working with made Ferris realize he needs to upgrade.

Customized sporting equipment can get expensive.

The hand cycle that Ferris used to travel Canada last year cost him $8,000.

"It's quite expensive,” he said.

While there are no estimates yet on how much a customized sit ski could cost, Ferris isn't worried about it.

"I don't believe it's an obstacle,” he said.

Ferris is hoping the community will step up once they see the sport, and realize how well it fits into the active lifestyle that Whitehorse residents enjoy.

With the final months of the sit ski season coming to an end, Ferris is happy with his progress this year.

"This year was devoted to just getting oriented to the sport,” he said.

Now that his first competition is over, Ferris will build on what he has already learned.

He plans to

invest in some roller skis so he can continue training in the summer months and develop his upper body more for the sport.

Next year he plans to attend the Para Nordic Games and the Canada Winter Games.

Before the season ends however, Ferris is looking forward to a visit from Canadian National Para Nordic ski coach Kasper Wirz.

Eventually, Ferris hopes to put the Yukon on the map in the Paralympics.

Ferris is overwhelmed by the support he has received from the community since beginning his journey.

"There's been so much support from members of the Whitehorse skiing community,” he said.

Together with Cross Country Yukon, Ferris hopes he can bring attention to the sport locally and encourage more people to come out and try it.

"It's my hope that through my own actions I can inspire other people,” he said. "We're hoping to further develop the program.”

Ferris said the sit ski equipment is even open to those without disabilities to come out and try.

"I would encourage people who don't have disabilities to try it out,” he said.

For more information or to try out the equipment, contact Cross Country Yukon's Amanda Deuling via the association's website at www.crosscountryyukon.com.

There are currently three sit skis in Whitehorse available for public use.