OT: K2's Shane McConkey passes away base jumping

bob · Since 09 Mar 2007 139 Posts Madison, Wi Stoked

http://espn.go.com/action/freeskiing/blog?post=4018726

My guess is that a lot of riders on this forum ski and thought I'd post the info I just got today from K2. I just got an email from my K2 rep saying that K2's Shane McConkey passed away today when a Base jump went bad. This is really sad. Shane is well known as being one of the best freeskiers in the world and one who helped K2 and the rest of the market put rocker in skis.

Almost a year ago, K2's Doug Coombs also passed away. This is another sad day for the entire K2 family and all who knew Shane.

If you've never seen these guys ride, so some youtube searches and you'll have a new appreciation for the sick lines these guys would ski.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

mojo1time · Since 28 Jul 2005 186 Posts Stoked

Shane has always ripped harder than just about anyone....he was a cool guy that I had the opportunity to ski with a couple of times at Squaw (which he owned)....Damn....

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Definitely a sad day today for anyone who is a fan of the shred!!! Even though I snowboard I remember watching vids with Saucer Boy in them with my friends who ski and he always killed it!

rip

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

He did so much for the sport, without him we wouldn't have rockered skis or many of the other advancements in skiing. ++++ vibes to his family and close ones, he will be greatly missed.

JMatic · Since 12 Aug 2008 252 Posts Boise, In Dat Ho Obsessed

Too bad about the true Pioneer of the FreeSkiing movement. Only positive here is he went doing what he loved most and took those calculated risks to live LIFE to the fullest. 700+ jumps, but what wasn't mentioned was that the wing-suit addition to the ski-BASE is a new concept he and JT Holmes have only been working on for a couple months......RIP Shane!!