www.shanemcconkey.org

 Sierra Sun article

 Word spread quickly through the ski world today that Shane McConkey passed away in a fatal ski b.a.s.e. jump in Italy.  I was on the road when Michelle called me and broke the news.  A heavy load of disbelief, anger and sorrow came down on me....I was talking to Shane last week.  Before he left Tahoe he was so jacked about his trip to Italy with MSP and Red Bull. He and JT Holmes were off to hit big ski lines ending in massive cliff drops and soar away like flying squirrels.   Shane was a pro.  He inspired so many to live life to the fullest, without risk there is no adventure.  It feels amazing to feel the buzz of life and that's what Shane had running through his veins.  I will miss you Shane.  My prayers go out to Sherry and Ayla. D



McConkey's last blog from Italy.
By Shane McConkey March 25, 2009 at 12:58

Today was quite cool! We finally nailed that line variation off the Val Scura couloir on Sassongher. This was extremely satisfying getting to ski such a unique line. Conditions in the couloir were still very hard and icy in places so the skiing was slow and careful. Traversing/hiking the ramp out of the couloir did not present much of a problem and it was a very cool feeling knowing what we were heading out to. The snow on the slope above the cliff was firm and icy and not much fun but it was only about 3 or 4 four turns long before the jump. We spent a lot of time on a rope looking over the edge of the cliff in a few different spots and throwing rocks to figure out how big the cliff was and how to manage this jump. I must say that it seemed a bit more spicy than we were expecting. The cliff bulged out further than we were hoping at the bottom and this made for a very intimidating looking jump. There was a minimal amount of snow at the edge of the cliff due to melt back so the best spots to ski off from were not doable. JT threw some rocks and we got a few 9 second rock drops and then we knew it was on! I had opted to not even bring my wingsuit today so I geared up for a standard slider up ski base jump. JT had brought his wingsuit and was feeling the wingsuit ski base. We called the MSP film crew on the radio and they fired up the heli and it as time to charge off this sucker! I went first and punched it hard into a big ol front flip with as much speed as I was comfortable taking in those conditions. Everything went great and I had an on heading opening. I flew down completely stoked and landed high up on the hillside so I could watch JT from a good angle. No more than 30 seconds after I landed I see JT flying off the cliff with a lot of speed. He yanked his skis off right away and began to fly immediately. It was a perfectly executed wingsuit ski base. Skis off quick and stable and into forward flight with no potato chipping or instability. I was jealous. Today was a good day!
Shane

  It's amazing how our weather changes this time of year.  We went from full spring conditions in the 50's, back to winter this weekend and Monday went off.  Cold weather moved in with decent precip on Sunday. Exposed on top of Lincoln there was a brisk wind. We had wind buffed conditions mixed with good pockets of pow in The Palisades.  I got three fun runs in there right when patrol turned the signs.  Then we hit some more "protected from the wind" runs inbounds that skied really well. New pics in the Sugar Bowl gallery.  (photographer: Grant Barta)

OVERVIEW:

            Sugar Bowl Resort is host to two U.S. Skiing Skiercross races on March 27-29,                  

            2009. Competitors from the United States must have a current USSA membership

            and FIS license. International competitors are required to have a FIS license and  

            a FIS inscription must be provided by their home nation. USSA or FIS

            membership may not be purchased onsite; membership must be purchased at least

            two weeks prior to the event. There will no onsite registration at the event.

HOST:                                   

Sugar Bowl Ski Team Foundation

ENTRIES:                

Entry $95/race (includes race day lift ticket). Separate training day lift ticket required ($41). Separate check for EACH day to: Sugar Bowl Ski Resort . Send  entry forms along with a supplemental sheet listing FIS ID numbers and USSA ID numbers to entry address. Deadline for entry Wednesday March 25^th @ 3pm. $15 late fee per race.

LIABILITY RELEASE FORMS:

            Liability Release Forms will be accepted at the Team Captains meeting and must

            be signed by a parent (if under 18 years old). We will not accept coaches         

            signatures for a minor.     

NO SIGNED LIABILITY RELEASE FORM MEANS NO RACE

ENTRY ADDRESS:           

Sugar Bowl Race Dept.                                   Fax:       530/426-6795

PO Box 5                                                              Phone:   530/426-6773

Norden, CA      95724                     E-Mail:racedept@sugarbowl.com

Fed Ex: 629 Sugar Bowl Rd

ELIGIBILITY:

            Must be 15 years old by 12/31/2008. Must have National Freestyle

USSA License and FIS Freestyle license.      

LIFT TICKETS:     

Athlete training tickets $41. Parent Tickets $49 available Judah Lodge Special

Tickets

REGISTRATION:

7:30-9:00am at Judah Lodge each day

BIBS:                        

Cash or Credit Card number taken as deposit.  Charge $50.00 per lost bib if not returned to entry address by April 11th.  Bibs will be issued, according to the draw at the team captains meeting.

RACE HEADQUARTERS:           

            Judah Lodge Coldstream Room

TEAM CAPTAINS MEETING:   

Thursday March 26^th  at 5:00pm at Judah Lodge Coldstream Room               

Friday      March 27^th at 5:00pm at Judah Lodge Coldstream Room.

Mandatory skier representation is required.

SCHEDULE:

            Friday March 27          Mandatory training                   Terrain Park     Time 10:00am
            Saturday March 28     Skiercross race One                Terrain Park     Time  9:00am 
            Sunday March 29       Skiercross race Two                Terrain Park     Time  9:00am

AWARDS:

            Saturday & Sunday  30 minutes after end of race at Judah Lodge

HELMETS ARE REQUIRED

There will be NO over the snow transport available

Weather and/or snow conditions may cause changes in the schedule.

NO dogs allowed at Sugar Bowl

LODGING:

Please refer to Sugar Bowl to receive discount

            Cedar House                                       (530) 582-5655

Tahoe Truckee Inn                              (530) 587-4525

Donner Lake Village Resort                (530) 587-6081

            Holiday Inn Express                           (530) 582-9999

            Alpine Country Lodge                        (530) 587-3801

Sugar Bowl Lodge                              (530) 426-9000

Ice Lakes Lodge                                  (530) 426-7660

The Inn At Truckee                             (530) 587-8888

River Street Inn                                   (530) 550-9290

Reno Area                                           Web site renolaketahoe.com

                Lake Tahoe Central Reservations        Web site mytahoevacation.com

 http://www.oxygen4energy.com/wada-bans-oxygen.html

We all use Oxygen everyday.  Some athletes use canned O2 to help recovery.  Look at the NFL, their players use it a lot when they come off the field and sit on the bench.  Why can't athletes governed under the USOC and WADA rules, use it for recovery purpose?  It helps the body recover quicker to perform safer.  When your O2 levels become depleted you build up a lot of lactic acid.  Putting the time into training and conditioning your body to handle the stress of high physical loads is important.  You're not going to be running, jumping, biking or skiing with it attached to your face.  But to get a few pulls off a can of recreational oxygen after strenuous activity helps your body recover.  I support Oxygen 4 Energy.  I'd like the opportunity to use it "legally" after a tough day at the gym or on skis or at the moto track or at the top of a mountain after hiking to my line or in the start of a comp. If you do too, take a look at this and sign the petition.  

http://www.oxygen4energy.com/wada_petition.php