Tsubaki Miki and the Pursuit of Greatness

Jan 31, 2025·Snowboard Alpine

Greatness. Defined as the quality of being eminent or distinguished. It is often argued whether its origins lie within a person or are they learned. It is a debate that often surrounds many young athletes who rise to the top of their sport before they can legally rent a car. A young adult hogging all the accolades must possess some intrinsic gift or be spoon fed a magic elixir from the wisest of coaches or a result of years of dedicated training.

For world champion Tsubaki Miki the answer may be all of the above or something even deeper.

The 21-year-old Japanese snowboarding sensation sits atop the current overall women’s standings of the VISA FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup. She is the dominant force on tour with three victories this season and eleven podiums in twelve races. With a nearly insurmountable lead in the crystal globe race, Miki is on pace for her fourth straight top five overall finish.

Despite her youth her trophy case to commision an architect to draft up an addition. Miki compiled one world championship, a top-ten Olympic finish, 21 world cup podiums, six junior world championship medals and six world cup wins in less than seven years.

This is just the beginning of her years at the sport’s highest level yet greatness already provides a fitting description.

Her desire for the top of the podium comes from hunger sure but there is no “Mamba Mentality” of arrogance here. Miki’s pursuit of snowboard excellence comes from a much deeper place - love.

Miki’s connection to snowboarding grew from one of the deepest connections in the world, a father’s love for his daughter. Miki’s girl dad was a snowboard instructor and put her on the fresh powder from a young age. He was her first coach although the youngster has raced past her old man’s abilities.

“I think you're probably right. My father is a technique teacher, not a speedster, so it was inevitable that I would pass him,”– Miki said with a laugh.

Miki also leans on 2022 overall champion Lee Sang-ho for guidance. The Korean veteran on the men’s side speaks with Miki often. Their connection supersedes any linguistic roadblocks.

“He is fast and strong and I’m learning a lot from his riding. I also respect his attitude and way of thinking about snowboarding, both as a top athlete and as a senior in life. Sang-ho was always willing to answer any questions I had. About skills, about training, about tools. I am not very good at English, but he spoke to me in a way that was easy to understand. I basically learn from the way he lives his life,”– Miki said.

The secondary voice is useful as Miki keeps a small team. After multiple coaches following her father, Miki has coached herself since she was 19.

A potential sign that greatness may come from within. Her gifts showed through from the jump.

“When I was 6 years old, a small competition was being held at a ski resort where I used to go. I asked to compete and I entered the elementary school division. It was my first race, but I was able to get third place. I was so happy to see the view from the podium and the congratulations I received at that moment. I made it my first goal to win that competition and that is how I entered the world of snowboard alpine,”– Miki said.

Tsubaki Miki tops the podium in Rogla 2025. © Miha Matavz/FIS

She carved a blazing pace ever since. Despite her youth Miki has a whole career length under her belt. Many youth athletes suffer a spout of burnout and either hang up the boots or find a way to push through as they chase the pinnacle of their sport. Miki never faced this fork in the road.

“I have never wanted to quit. However, there were many times when I was in a situation where I might have to quit, and each time I wondered how I could continue and each time I just looked forward,”– Miki said.

Her love of the sport is genuine. It comes through every time she crosses the finish line throwing a triumphant fist pump and ear-to-ear grin. This passion breeds her consistency.

“I love snowboarding and I love the view I see when I am snowboarding. I love competing against someone else for speed. For me, the World Cup is a heavenly place where top athletes from all over the world gather, so I always want to stay on the snow until the very end of the competition. That's all there is to it,”– Miki said.

One can imagine you might have to drag Miki off the board. Perhaps in thirty years Miki will be surpassing the current ageless marks Claudia Riegler is making on the World Cup tour this season.

Miki’s favorite moment of her young yet lengthy career came around a monumental career moment, when she summited the PGS podium of the 2023 World Championships at Bakuriani, Georgia.

“It was the time between winning the semi-finals and the big finals of the World Championships. I was so into snowboarding that I didn't think about anything but snowboarding. I have never had such a good time. I really felt that I had worked hard for this movement and achievement,” Miki said.

Tsubaki Miki in action dueling her competitors. ©Miha Matavz/FIS

It is in those moments between rounds where Miki finds her peace. She reviews the video from her previous runs and finds ways to chase more speed in the next round. This focus and drive gives her a noticeable tranquility on race days.

“In competitions and in practice, I focus on my skills to ride faster, so I try to ride better in quarterfinals than in the 1/8 final, and in the semifinals than in the Quarterfinals and so on. That may lead to my calmness,”– Miki said.

Do not mistake that peace for a lack of drive. Miki sits comfortably ahead of her peers this season but is hungry for more.

“My goals for this season are to win three crystal globes and another world championship. It is an important step towards the next Olympics.

My ultimate goal in my athletic career is to win a gold medal at the Milano Olympics. I have been working hard since I was 8 years old to get there.

I’m generally happy with the current results, this was a season in which I wanted to achieve results at all costs. But I’m looking for more speed and strength. I will continue to practice hard during the remaining two months to prepare for the World Championships,” Miki said.

The pursuit never stops. Never satisfied, always chasing greatness even when it is already achieved.

That drive finds a bit of backseat in her offseason activities or the short in-season breaks. Miki returned home after her win in Rogla for training during the current short break. She will find some comfort in her home surroundings while getting ready to battle it out for the season's return in Canada in February.

Off the mountain Miki maintains a normal life of a food-driven young adult. Well as normal as one can get when every winter you are compiling passport stamps like Taylor Swift on her world tour.

“I like to watch anime and read manga, hang out with my college friends, and eat Japanese food! I love Japanese home cooking. In particular, my mother's cooking is so exquisite that I always have her make it for me when I am able to go home when I return to Japan,”– Miki said.

Perhaps the great secret elixir was ramen broth all along.

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Tsubaki Miki and the Pursuit of Greatness

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