Shane and his daughter Ayla. Stenmark, from the Lappland region of Sweden, was the only “hero” that our hero ever spoke of. “We bought a plot down there near San Jose del Cabo. Sherry McConkey photo. She quickly reached out to the Squaw Valley Fire department who fixed the problem as it turned out that their home’s heating system was leaking carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that builds up in the bloodstream. Has a daughter named Ayla McConkey (b.2005) with her now late husband Shane McConkey. A year later, Sherry formed a foundation in Shane’s name that gives back to environmental and social causes. Shane McConkey was a professional skier and BASE jumper. It became apparent that she and her 13 year-old daughter Ayla were being poisoned. I wasn’t expecting my first thoughts to be of his young daughter. Proving he had truly arrived, a six-inch-tall Shane McConkey action figure was released in a package listing two of his nicknames, Pain McShlonkey and Cliff Huckstable. Remembering Shane. In 2005 arrived their daughter Ayla and Shane was smitten. His skiing dropped jaws, and his humor made sides ache. 1992-93 Nick Nixon Productions – Ski Theater. I was born and raised in Dassel, and my wife, Cindy, and I have raised our family here, as well. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and not something to take lightly. But he and others worried that big-mountain skiing, which had taken off by the late ’90s, could be the victim of its own success, especially if the FIS … The Shane McConkey Foundation was founded in recognition of the worldwide community of skiers, adventurers and everyday people who share a passion for life. It’s rural Mexico, near the beach.” His face and arms are freckled from the sun. 1995-96 Real Adventure Films – The Tribe I was shaken up when I heard Shane McConkey was dead. 1999-00 Matchstick Productions – Global Storming McConkey's passing leaves an entire industry reeling from the news. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and eventually based himself in Squaw Valley, California, but due to an itinerant childhood he never identified with a single place and chose Boulder, Colorado, as the place he came from. The Shane McConkey Story One of the boldest skiers of our time, Shane McConkey left behind a wife, a daughter, and one of the sport's greatest legacies. At that time, a career in skiing outside of mogul skiing or racing, was unheard of. Shane McConkey is survived by his wife, Sherry, 3 1/2 year-old daughter Ayla, and his parents Jim and Glenn. By 1993, Shane had won a Pro Mogul Tour event and his antics on the mountain, flipping, spinning and skiing where no one else would, landed him sponsorships with Spyder and Volant. Shane McConkey came into this world December 30, 1969. But what was the most rewarding to him, what made him happy and whole was his family: Sherry, Ayla and Pedro McConkey. 2003-04 Matchstick Productions – Focused 1996-97 Real Action Pictures – Burning Winter Film Work of our daughters’ marriages in 2013; Erica (Kurt) Hansen, and Katelyn (Shane) McCon-key. This carried into his high school training at Burke Mountain Academy on the East Coast of the United States, where, he vehemently wanted to be like legendary ski racer, Ingemar Stenmark. Over the next few years we will see just about every company in the ski industry create some form of rockered or reverse side cut ski. Influential and daring skier Shane McConkey died Thursday after falling from a 2,000-foot cliff while performing for cameras in northern Italy. 1997-98 Matchstick Productions – Pura Vida In his own words: “The ideas of reverse camber, rocker, reverse side cut and tail tapered skis made specifically for powder skiing was my contribution to powder ski design. He was 24 years old, a college drop out (to his mother’s dismay) and hell bent on making a career in skiing. He starred in 15 MSP movies including the heralded "There's Something About McConkey," and was honored as "The People's Choice" for Male Skier of the Year three years in a row. How long in area? 2002-03 Matchstick Productions – Ski Movie 3 – The Front Line The following morning, McConkey went and bought a new carbon monoxide filter for her home, only to have it go off AGAIN after installing it that same morning. In Shane’s honor, we support epic causes that protect kids, wildlife and our planet. Online donations poured in for Shane’s widow, Sherry, and daughter, Ayla. Your email address will not be published. The Legend. They hope to inspire others to live by Shane’s philosophy that, “You have one life, live it. The impact of his stardom was dwarfed only by that of his direct contributions to the sport of skiing through his non-traditional thinking and persistence. Shane was on a completely unproven, untracked path. This point is probably the one I’m most proud of. Shane McConkey's widow, Sherry, and their daughter, Ayla celebrate him at his Eagle memorial at Squaw Valley on Father's Day. As the news started to spread, I received the same shaken reactions from skiers who had never met him. While friends sensed that his family brought him a new inner peace, he still had so many ideas he wanted to try out that he just couldn’t slow down. 2000-01 Scott Gaffney Pictures – There’s Something About McConkey Today, the Shane McConkey foundation celebrates the life of one of the area’s most iconic figures, raising funds for a good cause in a light-hearted manner. We're not around right now. 283 were here. 2007-08 The Documentary Group – Steep Shane McConkey, wife Sherry, and daughter Ayla pose for a portrait on May 25, 2006. When pioneering freestyle skier Shane McConkey died in a ski-BASE accident in Italy in 2009, he left behind a daughter, Ayla, then 3 years old, and a grief-stricken wife, Sherry McConkey. This is why it is crucial to have a carbon monoxide detection system in your home and to make sure it is functioning properly. He had a knack for the back flip, for competition and for having fun. The Shane McConkey Foundation. 2007-08 Matchstick Productions – Seven Sunny Days Ahead of the release of McConkey, a movie celebrating his life, his widow Sherry McConkey talks openly about his death, coping with the criticism of him as a father and how she wouldn’t stop their daughter Ayla BASE jumping if that was what she wanted to do (though she obviously hopes she won’t). During his career Shane was featured in 26 ski movies (and counting). Two snow legends living in the same small valley in California hanging out under the same roof just livin’ life. Free skiing visionary Shane McConkey’s (1969-2009) wife and daughter, Sherry and Ayla, were saved last night by their carbon monoxide detection system in their home. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010. She said that that the detector was old, and may have been faulty as it’d gone off randomly in the past. 2004-05 Matchstick Productions – Yearbook Whether it was steep, extreme descents or new freestyle what we were doing was freeskiing, free to ski our own style on our own terms,” he once explained. Something about having skis on his feet made a lot of sense, but he did not know exactly what that was. Shane McConkey with his wife Sherry McConkey and daughter Ayla McConkey. 1999-00 Teton Gravity Research – Area 51 "There's nothing better than sliding down snow, falling through the air" - Shane McConkey www.shanemcconkey.org 2002-03 Scott Gaffney Pictures – Immersion Wife Sherry and daughter Ayla McConkey talk about life after Shane and how they carry on his legacy. 2001-02 Matchstick Productions – Ski Movie 2 – High Society Shane on his porch swing . For his life achievements and many contributions to the sport of skiing, Shane was named an inductee to the U.S. I had never known him outside of a chance encounter and didn’t expect to be emotionally affected on that level. I wasn’t expecting the knot in my stomach. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Blessed with amazing athletic ability, a creative mind, and a hilarious sense of humor, for over 15 years Shane and Saucer Boy performed for movie audiences, trade shows, magazines, and newspapers. But what was the most rewarding to him, what made him happy and whole was his family: Sherry, Ayla and Pedro McConkey. (Source: Outside Magazine) Shane was loyal to his spouse just as he was loyal to the sport. Late freeskier Shane McConkey is honored at the annual Pain McShlonkey Classic event at Squaw Valley, Calif. Shane and Sherry's daughter, Ayla, was on hand during the day to join in on the festivities. Nicole is currently attend-ing Bethel University, and our two sons, Nate and Carter, are students at the Dassel-Cokato High School. This ski season will be the 10 th without Shane McConkey hucking flips from Squaw Valley ridgelines. 1993-94 Nick Nixon Productions – Alpine Rapture For Shane, settling down didn’t mean, well, settling down, exactly. Sherry McConkey, Shane McConkey Foundation: Sherry McConkey, founder of The Shane McConkey Foundation, and her daughter Ayla are dedicated to protecting the environment while carrying on the legacy of free skiing pioneer, Shane McConkey, Sherry’s late husband and Ayla’s father. He and a friend, Binty Massey, skied all day, then went to Dusty's at night. Naked, except for the sun hat that shades her white-blonde hair and big blue eyes, she … DONATE. With an untamable spirit, he left the nest early, but always maintained a closeness and certain level of obedience to his mother and her advice. His eyes soaked up views of immeasurable beauty. Shane was never physically huge or a bulky guy, so ski racing did not necessarily suit him. Shane’s entire life was filled with special moments. Online donations poured in for Shane’s widow, Sherry, and daughter, Ayla. His career was active from 1994 to 2009, when he passed away. The two were wed May 29th, 2004 on the beach in Thailand during the best wedding this world has ever seen. This can lead to serious tissue damage, or even death. 2006-07 Matchstick Productions – Push (and Pull) Until this time fat skis were considered a crutch or training wheels and were largely ridiculed outside of helicopter skiing. 1999-00 Scott Gaffney Pictures – 1999 Before finding my seat in the theatre I spoke with Shane's wife, Sherry McConkey. Shane’s imagination stretched further than pioneering uncharted territory in the ski industry. Sherry, who posted on Instagram today about what had happened, said her carbon monoxide detector went off in her home late last night. In 1996 Shane played a major role in introducing the world to fat skis when he began using the Volant Chubb (90 mm waist) as an every day ski. The term was not accurate. I’m-having-more-fun-on-the-snow-than-you-attitude” was born, and he never set foot at Vail, or in a mogul competition again. Technique and drive could only take him so far, and he quickly understood that his path was not parallel with his hero. Shane McConkey Wiki Biography. He carved millions of turns into pristine untracked snow, laughed away afternoons with good friends, surfed warm water, enjoyed freefall and flying. Glenn recalls the principal just saying “He’s too small, bring him back next year”, upon first sight of him. Their daughter, Ayla McConkey was born in 2005. He carved millions of turns into pristine untracked snow, laughed away afternoons with good friends, surfed warm water, enjoyed freefall and flying. Some years later, Shane watched a friend water skiing and stared from the back of the boat at the water ski slicing through the WATER, and he had an epiphany: “Powder is more like water, than it is like snow!” He mounted 2 water skis with ski bindings, went powder skiing, discovered the easiest turns he had ever made, and then talked K2 into producing rockered skis. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. Shane was one of the most innovative B.A.S.E. Is Shane McConkey truly omnipotent? Shane McConkey is still very much alive in the heart of his wife and in the smile and actions of his daughter, Ayla. The Beginning. Shane McConkey with daughter Ayla, 2009, photo by Keoki Flagg . He left at 5pm on March 26th, 2009, only 39 years old. There was to be a memorial at Dusty's Bar on April 2 for Shane McCon­key, who'd died after jumping off a cliff in the Italian Dolomites. James Shane, that’s my name.” – Shane McConkey. Shane’s entire life was filled with special moments. 2000-01 Matchstick Productions – Ski Movie Shane’s proficiency on skis was, ahem, noticed. Shane simply followed this intangible comfort and spent his college years doing exactly what made sense: having fun, and ripping it up on the hill. He was so small as a youngster that he got kicked out of kindergarten. His mother, Glenn, an 8 time National Masters Champion ski racer was his primary source of guidance in life. Shane walks over to Sherry at her computer by the dining room table. 2005-06 Matchstick Productions – The Hit List (and Hit List Remix) jumpers on the planet. “I preached long and hard to everyone that this new movement in skiing we were all part of should be called freeskiing and not extreme skiing. 1995-96 Rob Bruce Films – Spinal Snap He was exactly where he belonged. 1995-96 Scott Gaffney Pictures – The Walls of Freedom What we were doing was free form skiing, free of rules and most any kind of boundaries. Ayla doesn't remember Shane, but she says goodnight to him nightly. I don’t get star struck easily, but seeing Shane and Jeremy Jones together in the same room hanging out is awesome. Shane and Sherry with daughter Ayla © [unknown] Has there been any particular responses that have really touched a nerve or have been particularly empowering for you? Stenmark showed bad-ass aggression on the race course, and disturbed coaches with his wild technique that ended up earning him the most wins in ski racing history. Photo: McConkey Family Album/Red Bull Content Pool. During that time, he inspired countless lives, changed the ski world forever and altered the paths of thousands of friends and acquaintances through his accomplishments, talent, irreverence, life experience and entirely unique outlook on life. ON THE MANTLE Place the trophies here, please. He was 39. But his influence remains. It was from here that he started his professional skiing career after initially attending the University of Colorado … His eyes soaked up views of immeasurable beauty. He loved his wife and daughter. They show me photos of their one-year-old daughter, Ayla, playing on the beach. Shortly thereafter, with an un-sanctioned backflip and a naked spread eagle his “HEY, look at me!! Free skiing visionary Shane McConkey’s (1969-2009) wife and daughter, Sherry and Ayla, were saved last night by their carbon monoxide detection system in their home. Last March, atop a permanently closed face at Kirkwood, California, a group of free-skiing judges stared down over the steep, firm snow and rocky chutes, scoping lines on the day’s venue and looking for a way down. In 2005 arrived their daughter Ayla and Shane was smitten. Living in Boulder, Shane skied all day and delivered pizza through the night. “We were just in Baja,” he says. Shane McConkey was already one of the most influential skiers in the world, changing everything from the shape of our boards to the way we ski powder. The Middle. “I think Shane truly embodied that spirit that life is about being happy, and you should do the things that make you happy,” Townsend says. 2008-09 Matchstick Productions – Claim It was Shane, who actually coined the term “Freeskiing”. 1998-99 Matchstick Productions – Sick Sense The ski and snowboard site with intelligence. Extreme skiing is a specific type of skiing and only one part of what we were doing. Shane and Sherry have a child together. There is no record of Shane being in extra-marital affairs or any sort of controversy regarding his marriage. Shane McConkey will also be remembered as a visionary in the sport of skiing. Education: Graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School. Shane was cut from a unique cloth of extremely talented skiers and fun and eccentric personalities. As the first North American Red Bull, he proved to be the perfect ambassador; a dominant competitor with outlandish athletic objectives that often proved the impossible, possible. As a result, he was always the smallest and oldest kid in his class. Shane discovered his life partner in a wiry South African, Shahrazade Smulders (Sherry), near the turn of the millennium. Michel-even with his wrecked knees, jet lag, and a wife whose birthday was waiting to be celebrated-headed up for a day's skiing before the memorial. But Shane’s most incredible achievement was one of subtlety. I … Shane McConkey was born on the 30th December 1969, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and was probably best recognized for being not only a professional ski racer, one of the most influential in the world, but also as a professional BASE jumper. From Saucerboy to Shanes Bond this compilation of McConkey getting rad has it all. McConkey even revolutionized the ski industry by helping design the reverse-camber powder ski such as the Volant Spatula and the K2 … With the release of the Pontoon in 2006, K2 made Shane’s vision of the perfect ski a reality. 2005-06 Warren Miller Films – Higher Ground At age 3, Glenn relocated Shane to Santa Cruz, CA where he spent his pre-adolescent years. He was mourned in ski towns from Chile to Bulgaria; one friend, snowboarder Jeremy Jones, christened an unnamed Alaskan peak “Mount McConkey,” and another friend commemorated him by dropping into one of Shane’s favorite steep runs naked. McConkey was unquestionably one of the world’s most badass skiers. Shane made it. He was at the forefront of human flight, and his dreams carried him to Baffin Island, China, New Zealand, Alaska and the Alps, but his most cherished time was that spent at home with his family. 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