Dan (19) and his parents, Noel and Chrissy, found out last week he had been selected as a late inclusion.
He is the first North Otago athlete to compete in the world winter games.
Oamaru is well represented in the New Zealand squad, with police officer Stew Hewett head of delegation, Noel Joyce the assistant head of delegation and assistant snowboard coach, and Dan competing in the alpine skiing.
Dan, a year 13 pupil at St Kevins College, is in his eighth year skiing.
To qualify for the world games, he had to compete in a ribbon day, a regional games and win a medal at a national games.
He will compete in slalom, giant slalom and downhill events.
Dan will now have to concentrate on fitness with lots of rowing, cycling and walking, along with skiing.
He headed to Wanaka earlier in the week for a few days skiing.
Competing in the games was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for Dan, and his parents and brothers were travelling to the United States to support him.
Special Olympics had been a very good organisation to be involved with - even for people who did not have any family contact with people with special needs, Mr Joyce said.
Special Olympics North Otago secretary-treasurer Sue Rudduck said the branch now had to raise $11,250 to get Dan to the United States.
She was applying for grants and other fund-raising events would be organised.
The branch was thrilled with Dan's selection.
"It's the ultimate for any athlete," she said.
Skiers Thomas van der Lugt (Dunedin) and Aaron Wild (Southland) and snowboarder John Halliday (Alexandra) are also in the team.
