How Winter Olympian Asa Miller's father helped him discover his love for skiing

Published February 8, 2022 5:28pm

Philippines' flag bearer Asa Miller leads the delegation as they enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. Jewel SAMAD / AFP

Skiing might not have been Asa Miller's first love, but it sure turned out to be his true one.

And his father, Kelly, had something to do with this special affair with the sport.

As a kid, Miller used to play baseball during spring and summer seasons in Portland, playing as catcher for Lincoln High School, which is one of the oldest high schools in the US.

But when the winter would hit, Miller would put on his skis as his dad had been hooked on the sport and does community work as a member of the Ski Patroller in Mount Hood for almost three decades.

Those times led Miller, now the Philippines' lone representative to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, to create a unique bond with skiing.

“I focused entirely on skiing as it became more serious, it’s what I love and my passion," the younger Miller shared.

(Asa Miller and dad Kelly ride a chairlift on the way to the training and competition venue. Photo courtesy of POC.)

Miller would find himself more committed to skiing after his father enrolled him in ski clubs such as the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club. He is also currently a member of the Snowbird Sports Education Foundation.

He was on the Mount Meadows race team before starting to rep the Philippine flag on his chest as a 16-year-old at the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Are, Sweden.

Kelly said his son spent two years skiing in high school before eventually deciding to go competitive on the international stage.

“Clubs are more competitive than high school. When he turned 16, we started talking of joining the Philippine team in 2016," the older Miller shared.

"When he turned 16, we registered him for the Philippines. You only have to choose only one country to represent. But I guided them, Asa and his younger sister Kaia."

That decision, five years after, brought Asa to his second Winter Olympics appearance as he is set to banner the country's campaign in the Beijing Games. Prior to that, Asa also represented the Philippines at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where he finished 7th

Miller will compete in the men's slalom and giant slalom at the Xiaohaituo Alpine Skiing field in Yanqing District.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News

Tags: skiing, asa miller, 2022 Winter Olympics