Shane McConkey knew how to live life to the fullest. He was a creative person with an extreme propensity for adventure. Those personality traits combined into skills that forged new sports, competitions, and even changed the way we ski today.
Shane was born into a skiing family in Vancouver, Canada during a time in which his father, Jim McConkey was establishing the ski school at Whistler, BC. Jim McConkey is considered a free skiing pioneer. His mother, Glenn, began ski racing at 46 and won eight National Masters titles. Shane would talk about how she’d ski with him in her backpack and how she inspired him to work hard at skiing. Shane’s parents divorced in 1972, when he was only three, and his mother moved them to Boulder, Colorado where he lived until he left his college career. He ultimately ended up in Squaw Valley where he met Sherry who became his wife and they had two children Ayla and Pedro.
Shane’s impact on the skiing world is undeniable. He placed in numerous events between 1994 and 2000. He was first in the South American Freeskiing competition in 1994 and1995. In 1995 he was the US National Freeskiing Champion. Taking his skills all over the world, in 1996, he earned the European Freeskiing Champion title as well.
In 1996 he made the previously shunned fat skis cool when he began using them as his daily skis of choice. The Volant Spatula was the first production ski to feature the reverse camber and reverse side cut that Shane envisioned when he convinced the company to make a prototype in 2001. Later, he also designed a rockered ski for powder runs. K2 manufactured what is known as the pontoon ski in 2006. Shane McConkey’s innovation changed the way we ski.
Behind the scenes, Shane was working hard to firmly establish the sports he loved. He cofounded the International Freeskiers Association and helped to get the sport into the XGames.
Although making movie appearances in the skiing & adventure genre since 1992, once Shane retired from competition he spent more time starring in films (26 total), that highlighted his extreme skiing style. The most recent film is one that covers his life story, aptly named, McConkey.
Shane once said, “I loved catching air and looking at the mountain creatively,” and BASE jumping took that view to the extreme. BASE jumping is parachuting or wingsuit flying from a fixed structure or cliff and it most certainly gave Shane air and views he desired.
The early 2000’s awarded him recognition for BASE jumping feats that captured the imagination and inspiration of adventure seekers everywhere. In 2003 and 2004 he was #2 in Powder Magazine’s reader poll. At that point he had completed over 700 jumps. Unfortunately, his exciting life and career was cut short in 2009 during a jump that went wrong in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.
Shane McConkey was inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2011.
His memory, positivity, and zest for life continues to live on through his achievements, innovations and the Shane McConkey Foundation. The foundation was established to continue his random acts of kindness through charitable giving. The organization has helped such groups as the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It also helps fund the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge in which groups of students work to resolve environment issues in their communities. Both efforts are meant to inspire others to make positive change in their lives.
Shane’s family continues to live here in Squaw Valley surrounded by those of us who continue to appreciate the richness of life, the beauty of the mountains, and the thrill of a fresh powder run.
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