Figure skater Nathan Miller wasn’t always a skater. As a young boy growing up in Oklahoma City he immersed himself in ice hockey starting at age five. When he was about eight a friend suggested that he try figure skating because it’s more challenging than hockey and would help him improve his hockey skills.
Always up for a challenge, Nathan decided to give it a try. Out of a large group of girls, he was one of only two boys in his figure skating classes. Although he kept up with hokey for a while, Nathan loved figure skating and loved being one of the only boys. He was able to do a lot of lifting and use his strength, which he loved, and was able to try new things constantly and was able to perform frequently. Eventually, Nathan gave up playing hokey to focus exclusively on figure skating. Why figure skating over hockey? It was harder and more challenging and Nathan wanted the challenge.
Even though at the time figure skating was seen as more of a sport for girls, his parents and friends were supportive. Nathan was successful on the professional competition circuit for years. He preferred skating in pairs since he got to hold someone’s hand to calm his nerves on the ice.
Skater Nathan Miller.
Now retired from pro skating Nathan skates with Disney On Ice and is currently touring with Disney On Ice: Dream Big so he gets to continue to do what he loves – performing on the ice now playing Aladdin. He also loves that he gets to provide children with special memories, like the ones he has of seeing Disney on Ice when he was around five. According to Nathan, Dream Big is sure to make a big impression since it includes new features like portraying Prince Eric as an acrobat who jumps from a tall castle onto the ice and a dragon that shoots fire from his eyes.
Even though Nathan no longer competes, he still follows figure skating competitions. He is heartened to see so many more young boys entering the sport. In the more recent U.S. Nationals Competition there were a lot of males he had not heard of that are up and coming right. Nathan thinks it’s great that so many more men are figure skating but notes that males now face competition than he did when he was competing. He especially likes following Chris Knierim who skates pairs with Alexa Scimeca and Nathan Chen who just won the US Nationals.
Like the character of Aladdin he portrays on the ice, Nathan sees as diamond in the rough. As one of the few males in figure skating as a child, he knows it’s not what’s on the outside that counts, but what’s on the inside. Although a lot of people doubted what Nathan could do in his skating career and he turned that around and used it as motivation to accomplish a lot. For other boys (and girls) who want to pursue figure skating, Nathan wants them to dream big, and never give up.