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THE MOST IMPORTANT TEAM

BUCK HILL D-TEAM

Buck Hill has helped develop Olympians, World Cup athletes, state champions, and collegiate racers for generations. While those accomplishments are an important part of our legacy, every one of those athletes started in the same place: learning the fundamentals.

The Buck Hill D-Team is our developmental ski racing program for athletes ages 6-15 and serves as the foundation for everything that comes next. Some athletes will eventually move on to the Buck Hill Ski Racing Team, their local high school race program or even the US Ski Team. Others will become lifelong skiers who love spending winter on snow.

All paths are successful outcomes.

The development years matter because they shape confidence, skills, and a love for the sport that can last a lifetime. A guess what? Buck Hill D-Team registration is now open.

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Building the Foundation

The primary goal of D-Team is simple: build great skiers first.

Through slalom and giant slalom training, directed drills, and race experiences, athletes develop the technical skills and confidence needed to continue progressing both on and off the race course.

D-Team athletes focus on:

– Building strong skiing fundamentals
– Learning slalom and giant slalom techniques
– Developing confidence through repetition and progression
– Competing in Minnesota Snow Sports League races
– Preparing for future race opportunities
– Having fun while improving every week

The strongest racers are built on strong fundamentals, and those fundamentals begin here.

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Gates, Race Results, and More

The most valuable lessons learned on D-Team often happen between runs.

Athletes learn how to work through challenges, bounce back from mistakes, support teammates, and recognize that improvement comes through effort and consistency. They develop discipline, resilience, and confidence that carries into school, activities, and everyday life.

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Building Skills and Friendships

Many Buck Hill athletes remember the chairlift rides, training on near perfect courses, and celebrating personal milestones just as much as they remember race results. Those experiences often become the reason families return season after season.

Not every D-Team athlete is chasing the Olympics, and that’s perfectly okay. Some athletes move on to elite competition. Some race for their high school teams. Others become excellent recreational skiers who look forward to every winter season.

The common thread is a lifelong love of skiing and the confidence that comes from learning something challenging in a supportive environment.

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Ready to Get Started?

Registration for the 2026-2027 Buck Hill D-Team is now open.

If your child is ready to improve their skiing, level up their ski racing fundamentals, make new friends, and build confidence on snow, D-Team is the perfect place to start.

Because every great racer starts somewhere. More often than not, they start here at Buck Hill.

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