About Rick Torrey
Rick Torrey of Killington is the owner and CEO of Basin Sports, Out Of Bounds Snowboard Shop, and True Wheels Bike Shop. Now retired, he also goes by the name “Richard Torrey.” An avid skier and snowboarder, he established both businesses as a result of his passion for outdoor pursuits.
Rick’s entrepreneurial ability is rooted in his exemplary academic performance as a student. He has excelled in many other pursuits throughout his professional career, with his ski business having received considerable acclaim for outstanding contributions to the industry.
Rick Torrey also proved to be a gifted programmer, working for Travelers Insurance in the mid-1970s. He played a key role in the design of more efficient access methods for developing computer systems, which was then beyond the capabilities of even accomplished firms such as IBM.
Rick Torrey’s Early Years
Rick was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and moved to Ludlow with his family at an early age. As far back as he could remember, he was always working‒bailing boats, mowing lawns, babysitting, and painting houses. He also maintained two regular newspaper routes.
Rick would carry this work ethic through his later childhood years and into adulthood. He has always been meticulous about saving money, knowing firsthand the challenges of coming from a poor family.
Entering the Workforce
With his characteristic tenacity and persistence, Rick finished high school and began working various jobs while taking as many classes as he could afford. He enrolled in Springfield Tech computer processing school, which would prove useful to his later work as a computer programmer.
Rick spent 1973 to 1975 going to school and working full time. It was during this time that he took classes at local colleges at night and trained full-time in experimental engineering at Pratt and Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut.
Despite his rigorous schedule, Rick found time to coach Little League hockey from 1973 to 1974. Although the demands of school and his job at Pratt and Whitney prevented him from pursuing coaching further, he helped the Ludlow, Massachusetts, team beat out all the other competitors in the regional competitions.
House Purchase and the Programming Years
By 1975, Rick had saved enough money to purchase his first family home in Windsor, Connecticut. He also left Pratt and Whitney that same year to become a programmer at Travelers Insurance.
Rick quickly moved up the ranks due to his programming knowledge and skills, eventually being promoted to a tech support position. His most notable accomplishment during this period was the design of a more efficient access method for developing computer systems.
However, despite his capabilities as a programmer, Rick was interested in exploring other career paths. Shortly after purchasing a second home in 1986, he began laying the groundwork for his future as an entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship Period
Rick Torrey’s start in business came about when he lent a friend some money to purchase a small ski shop in 1987. The shop unfortunately went out of business in 1991, at which time he opted to purchase it from the bank.
Although Rick knew virtually nothing about the retail industry, he applied his considerable experience and resolve to learn as much as he could about the business. During a period of intensive study and market research, he resolved to make the ski shop the leading store of its kind in the area.
Rick’s efforts paid off and the previously struggling business became a huge success. The ski shop was consistently named the best in its category over the next 32 years and garnered numerous awards as well as industry acclaim.
Encouraged by his success, Rick opened a snowboard shop named Out of Bounds in 1996 and then started a bike shop called True Wheels shortly afterward.
Like the ski shop, both enterprises were huge successes. Rick’s daughter joined the company in 1996, and development continued at a frenetic pace. Wife helped on part time basis until 2010 when she joined as full time CFO.. Construction of new facilities took place periodically every two years, and the successful entrepreneur was soon involved in six building projects.
Expanding the Business
Even at the peak of his success, Rick Torrey continued to strive for growth and excellence in his field. He tirelessly strived to come up with new ideas for his business, forcing many other companies to pattern their operations after his own.
But Rick always managed to stay several steps ahead of the competition. Over time, his store grew from 1,000 to 24,500 square feet and dominated the retail ski industry in the area.
The Secret to Rick’s Success
By the time Rick sold the business in August 2022, his ski shop was the undisputed market leader in the community. While the man himself would attribute much of the company’s success to the loyal employees who remained with the firm through thick and thin, his leadership and business acumen undoubtedly played a much bigger role.
These days, Rick Torrey spends most of his time skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. Two and a half years after his retirement, he can finally look back on a life well spent, basking in the fruits of his hard work and dedication to every endeavor he undertook.
