The former footballer was well and truly hooked on sit-skiing within days of trying it out last winter.

This week, he heads to the United States intent on making every post a winner in a 10-week stint in Utah.

"For me, this year is about getting the best training possible which is what I'm going to be getting at the National Ability Centre at Park City," Hanlon said.

"They've got some of the best coaches and the best set-up, apparently, for sit-skiing and learning. So I've got the best opportunity to be the best I can straight up.

"So I'll go and give it a crack there. I'm definitely excited just to see how it goes and see where it can take me."

In Park City, near Salt Lake City, Hanlon will again cross paths with the Australian Para-alpine team, some of whom he met in the Australian snowfields at a 'futures weekend' in August.

From that first day going through the gates on a sit-ski, the 22-year-old knew this was a sport for him.

"It's definitely a big rush, coming flying down the bigger slopes early in the morning when it's all fresh. Even going slow, turning, carrying on... Yeah, it's crazy," he said, sounding like a true convert.

He wasn't the only one in awe. Coaches and guides, including former Paralympian Shannnon Dallas encouraged him to pursue it.

"I've only had 15 days all up so far, skiing. But the coaches and one of the really good guides who taught me, Shannon Dallas... he skied with me for a couple of days and said, 'Yeah, definitely go and have a crack in America. You're good enough to head across there and get into it,' Hanlon recalled.

His determination to recover from months in hospital last year, after the amputation of his right hand and lower legs following a life-threatening infection, laid the platform for opportunity in a sport where a strong core is critical.

"I guess all the work I did early in the year, going to the gym, really helped. If I had have just sat at home and didn't put the hours into the gym, I wouldn't be anywhere near as capable," Hanlon said.

It's a long way from Weethalle and Wagga Wagga to the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

But with huge support from Disabled Wintersport Australia and the help of some NDIS funding, 'Chooka' is excited to be on his way.

"I'll get this new chair set up, some new skis and I'll be going heaps quicker getting more training," he said.

"I'm super keen to go and get set up and get into it all.

"The last races I'll do there are where we're training, and that'll be after about two months of training there, so who knows at the end of that two months, I could be cracking into it.

"If not, I'll come home and have a think about it. But the way it's going - I love it - so I'd say I'll be coming back home and heading to Jindabyne for most of the season.

"It's good fun. What more could you want than skiing around?"

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