There are a number of sports heroes today that are unlike
any others from the past. These are heroes that aren't involved in the every
day sports that most of us grew up with or participated in. These are the
heroes involved in the X games and sports of that nature. While the line up of
newcomers is vast, there are a few names that resound time and again. Such was
the case with Shane McConkey.
With a father who was a ski pro and a mother who was
tolerant of his desire to do different things, Shane was set to become the next
up and coming ski pro on the Olympic team. But things took a turn in his life
and he ended up uninterested in participating in that arena. A lack of interest
in scholastics led to his leaving college and pursuing the dream of finding
that next big rush. While this did little to inflate his bank account, it did
lead to his becoming a celebrity of sorts which he later parlayed into a
lucrative career.
Shane's beginnings of notoriety started with his skiing
abilities and his choice to ski difficult or near impossible runs that no one
else dared to. Skiing off of cliff faces down into slender runs that offered
little space to ski was his claim to fame. The other was his willingness to
make it all seem silly by doing things like skiing naked down a slope.
But that wasn't enough for Shane McConkey. The thrill, the
rush, wasn't quite big enough. That's when he discovered bungee jumping which
led into base jumping. For those who don't know what that is, base jumping is
repelling off of a tall location like a bridge, electric tower or building and
then releasing a parachute at the last minute possible. Yes, it is illegal and
not recommended, but there are those who love it. Shane was one of those
people.
When that too became too mundane he combined the things that
interested him the most into a new sport. Climbing a mountain to get to the
highest peak, Shane would ski down the slopes (what little there was of them)
towards a cliff and then fly out over the edge. Releasing his skis, he would
soar, flying if you will, until he hit that point where he would pull the cord
and parachute the rest of the way.
This item alone would make an interesting film. But we also
get the story of the man behind the thrills. We see Shane meet and marry the
love of his life. We see the child that he adored. We get to hear from friends
and family what a wonderful person he is. But the fact that we also don't get
to see much in the way of interviews with Shane himself should let you know up
front what to expect at the end. For those who are aware of Shane already it
won't come as a surprise. It won't if you're an astute viewer of documentaries
lacking the star either.
Through it all there is some magnificent footage of skiing,
base jumping and parachuting in various forms that will captivate you and make
you long to be able to do the same. For those of us unwilling to take the leap
and put ourselves in mortal jeopardy it gives us the chance to see what it
would be like via standard footage and helmet cams that capture everything from
the world of flight to the crash landings that do bodily harm.
Some will see this as a confirmation of life, of the story
of a young man with a dream who pursued it in every aspect of his life. Some will
see it as the sad tale of a man who was willing to lose his life in search of a
thrill. Depending on how you view the choices made on a personal level will
determine what you think of Shane McConkey. In the end one is left feeling that
he did indeed get the most out of his life, he did pursue his dreams no matter
where they led him. At the same time we also regret that he didn't stay with us
longer. If nothing else the movie will give you the chance to learn of and live
the life of Shane McConkey if only for the running time of the movie.
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