Growing up on Grouse Mountain
Grandpa and Yogi, Spring 1945
Yogi was born in 1942 to Rod Hebron and Elmi Teppo on Grouse Mountain. Located about 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Canada, and on the way to Whistler, Grouse Mountain boasts views of the Vancouver Bay and today is one of the province’s primary ski resorts. Back in the 1940’s, Grandpa and “Big” Rod were among the crew to build the lodge at the summit (the Village Inn) and construct the first ski lifts on the mountain. Yogi was on skis as a young child, partly due to necessity, but you could say it was also part destiny. He started racing as a young man, and showed true promise in his early teens. Rod raced for Tyee Ski Club. As he continued to compete, between 1960-1970 he earned his place as a leader on the Canadian National Ski Team, earning 14 Canadian National championship medals, numerous US Championships, Top 5 World Cup finishes, and skiing for Canada in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics.
