Tucker Murphy hopes his achievement in qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will inspire a new generation of skiers in Bermuda.

He reached the Olympic qualifying standard in Europe this month while competing in a series of events, including last month's World Championships at Liberec in the Czech Republic.

Murphy accumulated an average of less than 300 points over five International Ski Federation (FIS) endorsed races, meaning he met the standard, and is eligible to compete in Vancouver next year.

Although he has to go through the formality of being approved by the Bermuda Olympic Association, he is likely to become the first Bermudian to compete in the 15 kilometre cross-country skiing event at the Games next February.

"The Bermuda Winter Ski Association has been in contact with the Technical Committee of the Bermuda Olympic Association and has kept them informed of my results and the International Ski Federation qualification standards," said Murphy.

"Whether I am able to participate in Vancouver is subject to the BOA's approval."

And the Bermuda Rhodes Scholar hopes that instead of spending the winter months hibernating, his fellow Bermudians will get out on to the slopes the first chance they get.

"Because so many Bermudian athletes go away to school for higher education in cold climates, I am hoping that this may be an inspiration to them to perhaps embrace winter sports rather than hibernating, as may be the tendency when coming from a sub-tropical environment," said Murphy.

"There are some excellent runners from other countries, such as Kenya and Nepal, who have made the conversion to cross country skiing and have competed in the Winter Olympics."

Taking up a winter sport may not seem like the most logical pursuit for someone from a sun-drenched Island, but during the past few months of competing in Europe, Murphy has competed alongside skiers from Brazil, Iran, Ireland, and Kenya.

"We all have the same hopes, the same dreams," he said.

Being from Bermuda has presented its own challenges as well, not least in getting some of the more traditional skiing nations to take his role seriously. On a recent trip to Italy he was compared to a UFO, arriving from 'a country far away'.

While countries such as Italy have an infrastructure geared towards winter sports, Murphy has to be his own coach and equipment specialist, as well as competing in events.

He is also studying for a doctorate in Zoology, part of which requires him to study pumas in the Araucania lake district of Chile. Murphy hopes to combine running in the volcanic foothills of Chile, and swimming in the lakes with some roller skiing as he attempts to get fit for the Games.

"I am planning to do a couple more end of season races and then will spend the spring cross training," said Murphy.

"During the summer and fall I will settle into a programme involving long hours of running and training on roller skis to build base fitness. In my past experience, I have made the biggest gains in the summer and fall.

"I've been elated to have this opportunity.

"It is definitely one of the highlights of my experience skiing."