Embracing Legacy and the Evolution of the Hill

Winter is creeping closer, and the excitement around the Hill is undeniable. As I sat down to write this, I wanted it to be something personal, touching on a topic that I struggle with but equally find so much joy in working through as an operator of this business. Heading into my fifth winter here, I can’t help but feel like I’m still on a personal mission—one that has me searching for the true heartbeat of this place. Every resort has its own quirks, the things that make it special, and I’m still listening closely, trying to uncover what makes Buck Hill tick.

For so many, it seems like it’s our ski race culture. It’s woven into the fabric of Buck Hill and runs deep in our community. The competitiveness, the drive, and the hard work that’s put into it—there’s no denying it’s part of who we are. And maybe that’s what gives Buck Hill its edge, that feeling of intensity that surrounds our race teams. But I feel like there is another audience that has a different experience, and I wonder if I’m missing something, a different perspective. After all, I didn’t grow up skiing or snowboarding. While I’ve found a deep passion for it as an adult, it wasn’t a part of my childhood. Maybe that’s why I’m still looking for that something that everyone else seems to know so well.

Every time we make a change, whether in one direction or another, it comes from genuinely good intentions to enhance our guests’ experience and the resort as a whole. However, I’ve learned that there’s always a part of the traditional way that holds something near and dear to people’s hearts. Balancing the respect for our rich history with the excitement of new possibilities is a delicate but rewarding challenge.

Maybe I’m too hard on myself. Everyone I meet has a story about Buck Hill—some memory they treasure, some moment that stands out. I’m paying close attention, hoping to catch that secret whisper that’ll help me understand the full picture. Growing up and through college I was a basketball player and a huge Kobe Bryant fan. He has a quote that I often think about in my personal and professional life, as I think it provides a unique perspective. He once said, “Dance beautifully in the box that you’re comfortable in. My box was to be extremely ambitious within the sport of basketball. Your box is different than mine, everybody has their own. It’s your job to try to perfect it and make it as beautiful of a canvas as you can make it. And if you have done that, you’ve lived a successful life.”

I think about this a lot and ask myself what makes up Buck’s Box. I wonder how our team, our owners, and I view this box and if my vision of this box is simply different—if the way I approach Buck Hill will be unique because of my background. But whatever it is, I believe our team is committed to perfecting it, to making our “box” as beautiful as it can be. That’s what our team is trying to do, every single day. We’re working hard to find those quirks, expose the existing diamonds, and add our own brushstrokes to this magical canvas.

We’ve added new community-based programming such Bucky Ski and Snowboard Club, Women’s Ski Club, and Super Carve Sessions hoping people will come here, find their crew, and create lasting memories. Through events like Carve for a Cure, Food Shelf Days, and Rock the Hill, we have tried to use our platform and business to give to those around us and be a better partner within our community. We’ve had moments of success and others that didn’t quite hit the mark, but we’re not stopping. We’re striving to keep that paintbrush moving, adding to Buck Hill’s legacy in our own way.

I may not have found exactly what makes Buck Hill quirky yet, but I’m still searching, still listening. And in the meantime, I promise you this: our team is doing everything we can to make this place better every day.

Stay Rad, Keep the Stoke!

Nate Birr
President | COO