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Podium finish for Miller at water-ski event

Dave Miller battled through adversity – some of it expected, some not – to secure a bronze medal.
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Abbotsford’s Dave Miller finished third at the Big Dawg slalom tour event on the weekend at Albert Dyck Park.

Dave Miller battled through adversity – some of it expected, some not – to secure a bronze medal at the Nautique Big Dawg World Tour event at Albert Dyck Park on the weekend.

The record-breaking slalom water-skier from Abbotsford was not only competing in the event, he was also helping to host it. As such, he was running on fumes by the time the competition began on Saturday.

Then on Sunday, in the early rounds of the head-to-head playoffs, Miller rounded a ball and ran into a group of geese that had wandered onto the course.

"I did two flips, got hit in the head, just about got knocked out," Miller recounted. "The geese had to be taken away – the SPCA came and took them.

"It was a bit of a challenge, especially after that, because I was shaken up pretty good."

Miller regrouped, completed a re-ride, and ended up finishing third. He qualified for the Big Dawg World Tour finals, which run Aug. 16-17 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Todd Ristrocelli of Florida won the event, while Scott Larson of California finished second.