Rick Torrey

Rick Torrey of Killington is the founder and former CEO of Basin Sports, Out Of Bounds Snowboard Shop, and True Wheels Bike Shop. Also known as Richard Torrey, he built his career on a passion for outdoor recreation, particularly skiing and mountain biking. These interests eventually led him to establish and operate several successful businesses that became respected names in their industries. With a background marked by technical ability and business determination, his journey from programmer to entrepreneur illustrates how consistent effort and adaptability can lead to lasting success.

Rick Torrey’s Early Years

He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and relocated to Ludlow with his family at a young age. From early childhood, he worked various jobs to help make ends meet. His efforts included bailing boats, mowing lawns, babysitting, painting houses, and running two newspaper routes. This foundation of hard work stayed with him throughout his life and became a guiding principle in his career.

Coming from a family that experienced financial hardship, he learned the importance of saving and managing money from a young age. These habits would later support his ability to invest in education, purchase property, and eventually take business risks that required discipline and planning.

Entering the Workforce

After graduating high school, he began working full-time while taking classes whenever he could afford them. He enrolled in a computer processing program at a technical school in Springfield, which prepared him for a future in programming.

Between 1973 and 1975, he took night classes at local colleges while working during the day. During this same period, he entered a full-time training program in Experimental Engineering with a company based in Hartford, Connecticut. Though his schedule was demanding, he found time to coach Little League hockey from 1973 to 1974. The team he worked with went on to outperform all other local competitors in regional games, even though his involvement had to be cut short due to job and school obligations.

House Purchase and the Programming Years

By 1975, he had saved enough to purchase his first family home in Windsor, Connecticut. That year also marked his transition from engineering into computer programming, as he joined a large insurance company in a technical role.

He quickly gained recognition for his programming skills, which led to a promotion into technical support. There, he played an essential part in creating a more efficient access method for developing computer systems—work that outperformed what even major corporations at the time could produce. His approach allowed for streamlined processing, which was ahead of its time.

Despite being highly capable in his technical position, he began considering a different career path. After acquiring a second home in 1986, he turned his attention toward entrepreneurship and began laying the groundwork for his next venture.

Entrepreneurship Period

In 1987, he lent money to a friend to purchase a ski shop. When the business failed in 1991, he decided to take over the shop by buying it from the bank. Though he had no direct experience in retail, he took on the challenge of learning everything he could about the business.

He immersed himself in industry research, customer behavior, and retail operations. His goal was to turn the once-failing shop into a thriving retail destination. His work paid off, and over the next 32 years, the store earned repeated recognition as the best in its category and was awarded for its performance and customer service.

Building on this success, he opened a snowboard shop called Out Of Bounds in 1996. Not long after, he launched True Wheels Bike Shop. Both stores experienced rapid growth and were well-received by the community.

His daughter joined the business that year, contributing to its growth and development. His wife supported the operations part-time until 2010 when she assumed a full-time role as Chief Financial Officer. Over time, he oversaw the construction of new facilities every two years, completing six major building projects. This physical expansion reflected the increasing scale and scope of the company.

Expanding the Business

Throughout the peak of his success, he remained committed to innovation. He regularly explored new ways to improve operations and expand market reach. His efforts often led other businesses in the same field to model their strategies after his. Still, he consistently maintained a competitive edge.

The original store grew from a modest 1,000 square feet to an impressive 24,500 square feet. Under his leadership, the business became a dominant force in the local ski industry and a benchmark for quality and service.

The Secret to Rick’s Success

By the time he sold the business in August 2022, the ski shop had become the clear leader in its market. While he often credited the team that stood by him throughout the years, his leadership, planning, and hard work were central to the business's growth and reputation.

Now retired, he spends his winters skiing and his summers mountain biking. He also enjoys traveling, making the most of the time and freedom he has earned. Two and a half years after stepping away from the business world, Rick Torrey reflects on a fulfilling career shaped by commitment, effort, and the belief that success is built one step at a time.