YANQING, China. – Alpine skier Asa Miller completed another full routine of training on Sunday, his fifth since arriving here a week ago, and expressed belief he has adjusted to the snow.
“Today’s training was good,” said Miller, 21, who is competing in his second consecutive Winter Games. He is competing by his lonesome this time, unlike in Pyeongchang four years ago when he saw action along figure skater Michael Martinez.
Stockier this time in his 5-foot-8 frame, the demands of alpine skiing take toll on all athletes–and Miller’s no exception.
“No soreness and less pain this time,” said Miller, whose dad Kelly continued to monitor his training at the National Alpine Skiing Centre on Xiaohaituo Mountain.
“His fifth day [training] was good. He had a few good training runs,” the dad said.
Beijing is being challenged by the lack of snow, especially in the alpine skiing venue and organizers had to pump snow from snowmaking equipment. A story from the wires described the process as spraying atomized water into the air along with mechanically created nucleators–tiny ice crystals–that act as seeds for the manufactured snowflakes.
The Portland-based Asa Miller will compete in the men’s giant slalom starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday and will return three days later for the slalom also at 10 a.m.
Miller took the day off last Friday to rest his muscles and attend the opening ceremony in Beijing. But while at the Olympic Village, he found time to train in the gym.
“I still train at the village, focusing mostly on my legs, core strength and stability,” said Miller, whose training, preparation, and participation here is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
Organizers moved the men’s training on Sunday to the afternoon session to give priority to the women athletes who whose event comes on Monday.
