YANQING, China. – Asa Miller gets a shot at redemption on Wednesday in the men’s slalom that, for the entire season, has become so unpredictable, leaving the race wide open in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics here.
After taking a day-off on Monday to shake off the frustration from his “did not finish” mishap in the giant slalom last Sunday, Miller took to the course on Tuesday to get his legs and arms getting the feel of it again and reset his focus.
“Trust your feet and trust yourself as the skier you are,” American coach Will Gregorak told his 21-year-old two-time Olympian ward in between training runs at the National Alpine Skiing Centre. “It’s similar to what I told you before–the best you can possibly ski on race day is to ski like yourself.”
The start list won’t be known until during the coaches’ meeting set later Tuesday, but Miller definitely will be up against world-class opponents seeking Olympic glory, including the man they call “The Rocket,” Dave Ryding.
Most eyes are on Ryding, whose tough task is to end Great Britain’s lengthy wait for a first Olympic medal in Alpine skiing. Alain Baxter won Britain’s first Olympic medal in Alpine skiing but was stripped of his slalom bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games for using a decongestant that contained a banned stimulant.
Ryding, now 35, is in his fourth Olympics.
Gregorak was aggressive in helping Miller put his mind on the course.
“You’re not going to become another person and you are already an excellent skier,” the coach told Miller. “All you have to do is find the feeling that you already know. When you get into the gate, it’s just you and the course. Go and have some fun by making your best turn.”
Just how unpredictable was Alpine skiing this season? There were six World Cup slaloms with six different winners, with only four skiers making the podium more than once and no one doing it more than twice.
