From Little Hills, Medals and Memories Begin

Are small ski areas inconsequential? By no means.

Here’s what the Three Rivers Park District (Minneapolis, not Pittsburgh!) has to say about its Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area:

“Start at Hyland and you can truly go anywhere. Whether it’s becoming a 2006 Olympian in alpine [slalom] skiing like Edina’s Kaylin Richardson, a Winter X Golf [halfpipe] medalist like St. Louis Park snowboarder Steve Fisher or simply starting a lifetime of fun that takes you to larger hills and thrills, thousands of people have learned to slide on snow at Hyland.”

Granted, this is a self-serving statement from a marketing brochure. But it’s true. Lots of good things, whether it’s careers as “action sports” heroes or a life of enjoyment on the slopes, start on the smallest of hills.