Zach Miller Pickleball Training Journey: Zach Miller, a member of the Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team since 2018, has added pickleball to his training routine. The two-time World Champion and former Paralympian, who also won “Best Athlete with a Disability” at the 2023 ESPY Awards, says the sport is both competitive and fun.
Impressions of Pro Pickleball
At the MLP Salt Lake City event, Zach Miller shared his thoughts after watching top pickleball players live.
My first impressions of the pro pickleball players was that they play so aggressive. I knew the play was going to be a lot faster than how I play, but watching the pros play in person, their speed is on another level,”.
He enjoyed seeing the action up close.
“It’s so fun to watch some incredible shots and showcases of skill and technique. It’s really blown me away,”
Watching stars like Anna Leigh Waters, Federico Staksrud, and Connor Garnett made the experience even more exciting.
Similarities to Snowboarding
Zach Miller explained how skills from snowboarding connect to pickleball.
“At the elite level, I do see a few similarities, namely having to think on your feet and have that anticipation of what the opponent is going to do next,”.
He described how quick reactions are key.
“I compete in racing, so it’s one of those things where you can spend as much time as you want trying to make a plan of how you think the race is going to go against your three other competitors,
but the second the gate opens, you’re really just reacting. I think pickleball is similar because once you serve, you’re really just reacting,”.
Miller also admired the mental strength of players.
“When you’re under pressure, you’re defaulting to your highest level of training, so I can definitely see that in these athletes. When they get into those aggressive rallies or hands battles, it’s incredible to see them lock into that flow state, which is something I can definitely understand,”.
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Love for the Game
Like many professional athletes, Zach Miller enjoys pickleball for its balance of fun and competition.
“I love being competitive, so pickleball is great for me to play. If I lose a pickleball match against my best friend, I’m going to be upset for the rest of the day,”.
The joy of winning makes it even better.
“If I win, I’m going to be rubbing it in his face for the rest of the week,”
Miller said with a laugh.
Pickleball in Utah
Utah has become one of the top states for pickleball, and Zach Miller has noticed the sport’s growth since moving there.
“Before I moved to Utah, I’d never really heard of pickleball. I don’t think there was a single pickleball court in Colorado when I lived there, so I love being in Utah where there’s so many pickleball courts outside and inside so we can play year-round,”.
He said his move to Utah for the U.S. team introduced him to the sport.
“When I moved out to Utah because I made the USA team, I started playing pickleball with some friends who introduced me to it. I’ve had a lot of fun learning, playing the game, getting competitive, and now watching the pros play, too,”.
The Bigger Picture
For Zach Miller, pickleball offers a way to stay sharp, compete, and connect with others away from snowboarding. His growing love for the sport shows how it continues to inspire athletes across different disciplines while growing rapidly in popularity nationwide.
News in Brief: Zach Miller Pickleball Training Journey
Zach Miller, U.S. Paralympian and two-time World Champion snowboarder, has embraced pickleball as part of his training. He admires the speed and skill of pros like Anna Leigh Waters and Federico Staksrud, and says Utah’s booming pickleball scene has given him a new sport to enjoy competitively.