I mean not disrespect to Shane M., Doug C. or even Alan Lowe, but when you start a family, I really think that it is time to ratchet back the risk. We always hear the cliché that "he died what he loved doing", but the fact is that you are dead, and your children and wife will spend the rest of their lives without you. My wife's family come from a long line JHWY based mountaineers and they all had to make a decision after having children that certain risks (although calculated and well planned) are too great when others rely on you being on this earth. It did not mean that they had to quit climbing, but maybe new routes in the record books should be left for other climbers, etc. This is all very sad news about Shane, on the heels of Doug and so many others. This is the question that all mountaineers, base jumpers, ski divers, etc. need to address when dependents enter the picture. A good read on this topic is "High on a Ridge Between Life and Death" by Dave Roberts.
Just my views.........
VAIL, Colo. — Legendary skier and former Vail, Colo. resident Shane McConkey died Thursday in a ski accident in Italy.
He was 39.
McConkey was attempting a cliff jump in the Italian Dolomites in which he was to release his skis and then use a “wing suit” and parachute to fly through the air, according to news reports. McConkey was a pioneer of these so-called ski BASE jumps.
One of the skis did not release, and McConkey was unable to deploy his parachute, ESPN reported.
McConkey starred in numerous ski films as both a big-mountain skier and a ski-BASE jumper. He also won several national and international skiing competitions, including the X Games and World Extreme Skiing Championships.
The Olympic Valley, Calif., resident is survived by his wife and young daughter.
McConkey lived in the Vail area for several years in the early ’90s, competing on the Pro Mogul Tour and delivering pizzas for Domino’s.
Eagle-Vail resident Kari Corbin, who was his roommate then, said McConkey always just wanted to find a way to get paid for skiing.
“He died doing something he loved,” she said. “He loved to ski.”
Despite his amazing exploits, McConkey always seemed humble, she said.
“Shane didn’t think he was too cool for school,” Corbin said. “He never thought he was above everybody else. As far as I’m concerned, he probably was. With skiing, and with everything.”