Colorado Para snowboarder competes in front of family for first time, wins World Cup bronze

American snowboarder Zach Miller is a two-time Para Snowboard World Champion, a 2022 Paralympian, and 2023 ESPY award winner, yet his parents had never seen him compete. 

That changed on Tuesday when the Para Snowboard World Cup came to Steamboat Springs, just three hours from Zach’s hometown of Littleton. 

World Cup cancellations earlier this season in Europe called for an additional stop on the snowboard cross schedule. The opportunity ultimately fell in the hands of Steamboat Resort to host the first Para Snowboard World Cup event in the U.S. since 2017. 

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Immediately after learning the World Cup was coming to home snow, Zach immediately called his parents who were quick to book their travel plans for the race

“When he first got started, I had no idea I would never be able to see him race,” said Zach’s mother, T.R., with tears in her eyes. “I just assumed they would all be (in the U.S.). This is such a big deal for me to be here and to see him, and he won a medal.” 

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T.R. said the minute she got on the city bus on Tuesday morning, she was telling anyone in earshot about the World Cup event and how proud she is of her son. It was certainly a long road to the top for Zach who was born with left hemiplegic cerebral palsy. 

He was going to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver multiple times per week for physical therapy and other check-ins. As a full-time patient, he was able to join the ARCH Program which offers children like Zach a chance to try out various sports from soccer to fishing and even skiing. 

Zach’s first experience on snow came skiing in Winter Park. It wasn’t until two years later where he found himself riding a lift, admiring the way snowboarders interact and enjoy the mountain. He told his instructor he wanted to give it a try, so he did. 

“Once I got on the board, I never looked back,” he said. “The only thing I cared about was how fast I could go. I just wanted to go straight, and instructors were teaching me how to turn, but I didn’t care.”

Quickly, Zach learned about a new sport which was developing for the Paralympics — Para Snowboardcross. 

Competing on the World Cup circuit for Adaptive Action Sports, he eventually made the U.S. team in 2018 — now in year eight wearing the Stars and Stripes. 

“To see (Para Snowboarding) develop into what it is today and be one of the guys at the top competing for wins, that is a cool feeling,” he said.

Pitted against athletes from countries like Japan, Brazil, and Switzerland, he felt a rush down his spine when arriving to Mount Werner on Tuesday morning. He channeled that feeling into a speedy finals run. 

“I come through the finish line, and the first thing I hear is the cheers of my parents and some of my friends who drove up to come see me,” Zach said. “I’m not going to lie, it added a little extra pressure because now I’m actually in front of the home crowd … and you really want to do well for them.” 

He landed a World Cup bronze medal, in the men’s Lower Limb 2 event. 

“To be at the top of the course and look out over mountains that I’ve grown up living in is already special, then, I get a podium which is a dream come true to get a podium on home snow,” he said. “I’ll be able to take home a medal today that says ‘Steamboat Springs, Colorado’ on it.” 

He followed up his podium day with a fourth place finish on Wednesday, reaching the big final in both events.

“It’s really special to be able to see him in a local area, we are so thankful to Steamboat and Toyota for putting it on,” said Zach’s dad, Mike. “I am super proud of Zach for his development and accomplishments here today. He’s done a great job.”