The Philippines at Winter Olympics: Portland athlete to compete

BEIJING, China — Portland native and two-time Olympian Asa Miller is considered one of three athletes from Oregon set to compete in males’s large slalom on the Winter Olympics in Beijing this Saturday. 

The primary run on Feb. 12 is scheduled for six:15 p.m. and the medal occasion is at 9:45 p.m.

Miller, whose mom was born within the Philippines, has twin citizenship with each Philippines and america. He’s the one athlete representing the Philippines on the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The 21-year-old mentioned the chance to compete for the nation feels surreal.

“I get to be the face of the Philippines. I am simply actually excited that I get to embody all the pieces the Philippines. The satisfaction and tradition we now have over there,” he mentioned.

As a 17-year-old, Miller additionally competed for the Philippines on the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics the place he positioned seventieth out of a hundred and tenth in large slalom.

“I hope to enhance upon that positioning given my 4 years of expertise,” he mentioned. “It is undoubtedly doable as a result of my snowboarding has improved lots, however that being mentioned, I am undoubtedly not gunning for gold. I simply wish to ski my greatest.”

Miller began snowboarding when he was simply 1 yr previous. He credit his father, Kelly, for encouraging him to get into the game.

“My dad launched me to the game as a part-time ski patroller on Mt. Hood Meadows,” he mentioned. “I started ski racing once I was 8 years previous. My dad signed me up as a result of he needed me to be a greater skier.”

Miller’s father is with him in Beijing as an help coach and providing assist.

“[He’s] serving to me take steps in my targets to the place I wish to be and must be to make this a actuality. It is meant the world. It has been such a enjoyable journey for him and I each,” he mentioned.”

It is not solely the chance to compete on the Olympics that excited Miller. He’s hoping to encourage the following technology of skiers. Specifically, athletes within the Philippines who could not even have the ability to expertise snow of their lives.

“I wish to function a motivation and present that there is a path to do what I obtained to do and be a two-time winter Olympian for a tropical nation. I am hoping that after me, there might be extra Filipino skiers, snowboarders [and] mogul skiers. I am hoping to blaze the trail for extra of a bigger avenue for athletes to compete for the Philippines.”

Miller can be set to compete in males’s slalom on Tuesday, Feb. 15.