Announcing the Inaugural Buck Hill Freestyle Team!
Elevating Young Athletes by Ushering in a New Era of Competitive Winter Sports through the Buck Hill Freestyle Team
Greetings to all winter sports enthusiasts, families, and friends! We are excited to announce the inaugural launch of the Buck Hill Freestyle Team. Buck Hill Ski Area, a name synonymous with progression, passion, and prowess, is thrilled to take another significant leap in the world of winter sports. With this new initiative, we aim to provide an advanced platform for young, ambitious athletes who are eager to compete in freestyle skiing and snowboarding at the highest level.
The Final Stage in the Pipeline
Buck Hill has always been committed to fostering talent and facilitating growth. Our new Freestyle Team represents the final, and most competitive, stage in our unique progression pipeline. Starting with ski and snowboard lessons, novice athletes move through our Fast Kids programs, refining their skills, increasing their confidence, and fostering a love for the sport.
The Buck Hill X-Team is the second stage in our freestyle progression model. Here, young skiers and snowboarders are introduced to the exhilarating world of freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The X-Team allows them to explore, experiment, and engage in freestyle terrain parks in new and exciting ways, encouraging them to push their limits while still maintaining a reduced risk and controlled environment.
Upon graduation from the X-Team, the next step is the newly formed Buck Hill Freestyle Team, where individuals are offered a platform to compete in regional, national, and international events.
Elevating the Game
Our Freestyle Team athletes will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in regional United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) events. Not only this, but they will also have the chance to test their mettle against the best in the nation at USASA, United States Ski and Snowboard (USSS), and International Ski Federation (FIS) events. This exposure will inevitably strengthen their technique, stamina, and competitiveness while providing them with invaluable experience and opportunities for growth.
Elevating Performance and Potential
Our all-inclusive training program encapsulates an array of methodologies to foster athletic prowess. In addition to on-snow training in four distinct terrain parks and the Midwest’s only halfpipe, our Freestyle Team will engage in dynamic dryland/cross-training sessions to enhance their physical strength, agility, and stamina. Athletes will also get the chance to refine their skills with dry slope training, an effective way to build muscle memory and technique without depending on the season.
Expert Coaching
Our Freestyle Team will be under the tutelage of certified coaches from USASA, USSS, and FIS. These experienced professionals will guide our athletes, helping them to refine their technique, boost their performance, and develop the mental toughness needed to thrive in competitive events.
The strength of the Buck Hill Freestyle Team lies not only in the dedication of our athletes but also in the unparalleled expertise of our coaching staff. We are proud to have an exceptional team of experienced and certified coaches at the helm, guiding our young skiers and snowboarders towards success.
Ryan Conway, our Team Director, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the team. As a USASA/USSS/FIS Level 300 Coach, his tactical and technical expertise is unrivaled. Ryan’s extraordinary work has been recognized nationally, with him earning the prestigious title of the 2023 USSS Domestic Coach of the Year. His dedication to fostering talent is at the heart of the Buck Hill Freestyle Team’s mission.
Casey Lehmicke, our Head Coach, boasts an impressive record in winter sports coaching. As a USASA/USSS/FIS Level 200 Coach, he has honed his skills in some of the most competitive environments, including his tenure as a Freestyle Coach at the Vail Ski and Snowboard Club. Casey brings with him an acute understanding of the sport and a clear vision for the development of our athletes.
Myles Grote, as our Lead Coach, complements our coaching roster perfectly. A USASA/USSS/FIS Level 200 Coach and the creative mind behind the Buck Hill Terrain Parks, Myles has a deep understanding of the requirements of freestyle skiing and snowboarding. His knack for creating dynamic and progressive freestyle terrain parks ensures our athletes are always ready to tackle new challenges and improve their skills.
Besides these pillars of coaching prowess, our roster is brimming with a multitude of other talented, experienced, certified, and passionate coaches. Each brings unique insights and a shared passion for winter sports, playing an integral role in shaping the Buck Hill Freestyle Team.
As we continue on this thrilling journey, our athletes have the privilege of learning from the best in the business. With a team like this leading the way, the sky’s the limit for the Buck Hill Freestyle Team.
Commitment to Athletes
We firmly believe that success in sport goes beyond talent and training; it also involves fostering the right mindset, nurturing a love for the sport, and providing opportunities to compete and learn. The Buck Hill Freestyle Team is not just a training program—it’s a journey that begins with the first lesson and culminates in the exhilarating world of competitive freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
Our commitment remains, as always, to our athletes. We are here to mentor them, cheer for them, and stand by them as they carve their paths to greatness. This new chapter, the Buck Hill Freestyle Team, is not just about winning competitions; it’s about creating well-rounded athletes who will become ambassadors for winter sports, role models in the community, and passionate sportspeople who carry the spirit of Buck Hill wherever they go.
We look forward to this exciting new chapter and invite you to join us as we cheer on our athletes in their competitive journeys. Here’s to a future filled with flips, twists, jumps, and of course, the thrill of the journey! Stay tuned for updates on the Buck Hill Freestyle Team’s progress, and be sure to show your support when our athletes take to the slopes!
