On March 26, 2009, ski legend Shane McConkey died in a ski BASE jumping accident in the Italian Dolomites. In countless ways, McConkey defined skiing as a lifestyle and by pushing the boundaries of the sport. Shane was a member of the K2 Skis team and was a creative thinker who challenged conventional wisdom in ski design. His Pontoon rockered powder ski, introduced in 2004, was one of the most profound innovations in ski design in decades. His concept was soon after adopted by the snowboard market thus making the sports more fun for millions of enthusiasts. READ MORE

Via: K2skis.com

Match Stick Production’s “IN DEEP” features the best skiers in the world including Mark Abma, Sean Pettit, Eric Hjorleifson, Daron Rahlves, Henrik Windstedt, Chris Davenport, Bobby Brown, Colby West, TJ Schiller, Mike Douglas, Kaj Zackrisson, James Heim, Hugo Harrisson, Rory Bushfield, PK Hunder, Ingrid Backstrom, Jacob Wester, Russ Henshaw, Henrik Harlaut, Alexis Godbout, Michelle Parker, JT Holmes, Sammy Carlson, Chris Rubens and Shane McConkey.
Read the Press Release and Watch the Video Trailer

Shane McConkey died yesterday near Corvara Italy while filming for the new Matchstick video in the Dolomite Mountains with fellow skier J.T. Holmes. Shane was filming a segment in which he would attempt to ski off of a cliff, drop his skis and fly away with the help of a wing suit before he pulled his chute. When he jumped his ski bindings malfunctioned putting him in an uncontrollable spin which resulted in his death.

Base jumping and skiing were two of his favorite things to do. In 2003 Shane put his two favorite sports together and skied off a cliff with a parachute. Although many in the ski community viewed this cliff jump as just another stunt, Shane saw it as a new component of skiing. This opened up an entirely new perspective for Shane on where he could ski and what types of lines he could claim. Shane said, “there are a lot of lines that you cant do because it ends in a big giant cliff”. This new avenue allowed him to ski those once thought untouchable lines.

Shane, like most of us lived for the pure adrenaline rush. Rest in peace.

Read More, K2 Skis Tribute

Red Bull Ski Teamers Shane McConkey and Sean Pettit appeared yesterday on the Today Show, pumping up the New York premier of Matchstick Production’s new movie, “Claim.” Check it out!

That Shane sure is good on TV. The youngster Sean Pettit seems to be a little more nervous. At least they get to talk about their lives as professional skiers being XTreme all day long. I’m just stoked they are getting the exposure on national TV.

Via RedBullSkiing.com