Zach Miller (snowboarder)
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 March 1999 Colorado, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para snowboarding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | SB-LL2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paralympic finals | Beijing 2022, Milano-Cortina 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Zach Miller (born 10 March 1999) is an American para snowboarder who competes in the SB-LL2 classification. He has represented the United States in international competition, including the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing and 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano-Cortina.
He became World Champion in 2022. In 2023 he won the Best Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award.
Biography
Career
Miller was born in the U.S. state of Colorado. He was diagnosed with left hemiplegic cerebral palsy at six months old, a condition that affects the connection between the brain and muscles and can limit muscle growth. As a child he received regular physical therapy at Children’s Hospital in Denver, where he was introduced to sports through a youth activity program.[1]
He first experienced snow sports while taking ski lessons in Colorado and later switched to snowboarding after watching other riders on the mountain. Drawn to the speed and competitive aspects of the sport, he began focusing on snowboard racing and eventually progressed to international competition.[1]
Miller joined the United States Para Snowboard Team in 2018 and soon became one of the top competitors in his classification. Over the following years he won multiple medals at the World Para Snowboard Championships, including a world title in banked slalom at the 2022 championships in Lillehammer.[2][3]
He made his Paralympic debut at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, where he competed in snowboard cross and banked slalom events. An injury during the Games affected his results, but he later returned to form and continued to record podium finishes on the international circuit.[4]
Personal life
Miller has worked with Adaptive Action Sports to help introduce new athletes to adaptive snowboarding. He is also known for interests such as gaming and motorcycle riding while continuing to compete at the highest level of the sport.[4]
Truck fire rescue
In 2024, Miller helped stop a vehicle fire while riding his motorcycle through Parleys Canyon in Utah. During his commute to a snowboarding training session, he noticed smoke coming from a pickup truck traveling on the highway next to him. Miller signaled to the driver that the vehicle was on fire, prompting the driver to pull over. After stopping, the two opened the hood of the truck and used water bottles to extinguish the flames coming from the wheel well before the fire could spread further.[5][6][7]
Results
Paralympic Games
| Year | Venue | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | China Beijing | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 9th |
| 2022 | China Beijing | Banked slalom SB-LL2 | 15th |
World Championships
| Year | Venue | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Canada Big White | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 12th |
| 2017 | Canada Big White | Banked slalom SB-LL2 | 9th |
| 2019 | Finland Pyhä | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 3rd |
| 2019 | Finland Pyhä | Banked slalom SB-LL2 | 9th |
| 2022 | Norway Lillehammer | Banked slalom SB-LL2 | 1st |
| 2022 | Norway Lillehammer | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 11th |
| 2023 | Spain La Molina | Dual banked slalom SB-LL2 | 2nd |
| 2023 | Spain La Molina | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 3rd |
| 2025 | Canada Big White | Banked slalom SB-LL2 | 3rd |
| 2025 | Canada Big White | Snowboard cross SB-LL2 | 4th |
References
- ^ a b "Team USA Para Snowboarder Zach Miller heads into the winter riding well and inspiring others". fansided.com. 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "Paralympic snowboarder saves man from truck fire in Utah". NBC Miami. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "Zach Miller – Athlete details". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ a b "Who to watch on the Paralympic stage". The Park Record. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "Paralympian Zach Miller saves driver of burning truck near Park City, Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "How Paralympian Zach Miller saved a citizen from disaster". NBC Olympics. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "Video of Paralympian's heroics after truck catches fire in Parleys Canyon gains millions of views". The Salt Lake Tribune. 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2026-03-13.