Brett Miller died on Nov. 17, 2003 in Park City, Utah,
after a long battle with melanoma.
Brett Miller died on Nov. 17, 2003 in Park City, Utah,
after a long battle with melanoma. Brett was 26 years
old. Brett moved to Park City in 1999. He loved the
mountains and was a master of numerous mountain sports
– Alpine skiing, backcountry skiing, motocross and
mountain biking, in addition to biathlon and
cross-country skiing.
Before moving to Park City from Hackensack, MN Brett
was a top junior cross country ski racer and
biathlete. Brett joined Team Birke in 1992 and under
the coaching of Steve Gaskill, he progressed quickly.
For his senior year in high school, Brett attended the
National Sports Academy in Lake Placid where he
focused on his biathlon training. He made his first
World Junior Biathlon Team in 1994, and made
subsequent teams in 1995, 1996, and 1997. He was a
member of the 1997 US. Junior team that placed 5th at
the World Junior Championships Relay. Brett competed
at the World University Games in 1997 and 1999,
placing 4th in the relay in the '99 Games in Slovakia.
Brett was know by his coaches and teammates as the
“go to guy” when it came to relays. He always put
together fantastic performances when his teammates
were depending on him. During the 1999 World
University Games relay, Brett skied the anchor leg,
and moved the U.S. team up from 7th place at the
exchange to 4th at the finish.
His friends in Utah, in Minnesota, will miss Brett and
many others places where there are mountains and snow.
Everyone who knew Brett knew that he had a style all
his own: he was unique, independent, and uninfluenced
by the trends or style of the day. Brett's
independent streak did not prevent him from making
strong friendships. To the contrary, Brett was a very
social person, and enjoyed spending time with his
friends on the mountain, at work, or out on the town.
He cared deeply for those close to him. Brett was a
fighter- even after the toll of several rounds of
chemotherapy, he was confident that he would win his
battle with cancer. When it became clear in the last
days that he would not win this battle, it was Brett
who comforted those close to him.
There will be a memorial service in Park City on
Friday, November 21st. Please contact Dave Gieck, at
307/690-9262. There will be a memorial service in
Hackensack on Friday, Nov 28th. Please check
www.minnesotabiathlon.com for details on the
Hackensack memorial service.
Brett's parents, Sharon and Gary, still live in
Hackensack and have been constant supporters of MN
Biathlon and the U.S. Biathlon Association. Brett's
parents are still known well in the biathlon and cross
country worlds as the family behind Core Sport-
manufacturer of “Base Savers”, “Iron Cozies”, rifle
covers, and shooting cuffs.
For those that would like to send cards, the Miller's
address is:
Sharon and Miller
HC 74 Box 855
Hackensack, MN 56452
Email: coresprt@uslink.net,
sharonmiller@tds.net
Phone: 218/682-2785
Our sympathies go out to the Millers. We will miss
you Brett.
More at <http://www.minnesotabiathlon.com
