lifewithoutanet
March 30th, 2009, 09:51 PM
Here's the article, but what really hit me was the quote at the end, in response to how he'd want to be remembered:
ESPN The Magazine: Remembering Shane McConkey - ESPN The Magazine (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4028108)
Shane, from the article: "I've found that having a reputation, no matter what it is … if it gets people talking, then you will be remembered. You are important and valuable to companies you work with. As long as people don't think what you're doing is the wrong thing. I want to be a good guy and an inspiration to kids, a good husband, a good dad. What else matters?"
I didn't know Shane well, but as the reporter said in this article, if you left him a message, he called you back. If you sent him an Email, he replied. When I talked to him about a project I had brewing and wanted him to be a part of, he responded: "Dude, you sure you're ready to weather that shitstorm? You're gonna take a lot of flack for that. But yeah, sure." And after one of his "Look at me" dispatches following a trip I responded, "You guys suck. I fucking hate you. Nice work", he shot back "You are winning the "Response to Shane's Trip Report Contest"."
I met Shane right after my first BASE jump. Immediately, in the LZ. Apart from who he was as a skier, I knew nothing about him. I'd just landed and had gathered my shit and was standing on the beach when I looked up and saw someone on this side of the rail with his canopy at line-stretch and someone holding it out for a wad-assist. He left, it opened and I thought nothing much of it until he came in to land and something looked...off...not quite right. Then he touched down and let go of the risers and the canopy just fell away. It was about this time I let out a "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" and forgot for a few moments about my own very first BASE jump, just a scarce few minutes before. "That was the fucking coolest thing I've ever seen," I said. Rather nonchalantly, Shane replied, "Nah, dude. I don't have the guns to do it without a packed rig on my back," as if that somehow made it un-noteworthy.
Since last Thurs I've fielded more calls than I could imagine from friends, co-workers and colleagues who know I jump and who heard about Shane. It's been astounding and they just keep coming in. It's amazing evidence that Shane touched a lot of people beyond this misfit little sport of ours and he will certainly be remembered as an inspiration to kids and adults around the world.
-C.
ESPN The Magazine: Remembering Shane McConkey - ESPN The Magazine (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4028108)
Shane, from the article: "I've found that having a reputation, no matter what it is … if it gets people talking, then you will be remembered. You are important and valuable to companies you work with. As long as people don't think what you're doing is the wrong thing. I want to be a good guy and an inspiration to kids, a good husband, a good dad. What else matters?"
I didn't know Shane well, but as the reporter said in this article, if you left him a message, he called you back. If you sent him an Email, he replied. When I talked to him about a project I had brewing and wanted him to be a part of, he responded: "Dude, you sure you're ready to weather that shitstorm? You're gonna take a lot of flack for that. But yeah, sure." And after one of his "Look at me" dispatches following a trip I responded, "You guys suck. I fucking hate you. Nice work", he shot back "You are winning the "Response to Shane's Trip Report Contest"."
I met Shane right after my first BASE jump. Immediately, in the LZ. Apart from who he was as a skier, I knew nothing about him. I'd just landed and had gathered my shit and was standing on the beach when I looked up and saw someone on this side of the rail with his canopy at line-stretch and someone holding it out for a wad-assist. He left, it opened and I thought nothing much of it until he came in to land and something looked...off...not quite right. Then he touched down and let go of the risers and the canopy just fell away. It was about this time I let out a "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" and forgot for a few moments about my own very first BASE jump, just a scarce few minutes before. "That was the fucking coolest thing I've ever seen," I said. Rather nonchalantly, Shane replied, "Nah, dude. I don't have the guns to do it without a packed rig on my back," as if that somehow made it un-noteworthy.
Since last Thurs I've fielded more calls than I could imagine from friends, co-workers and colleagues who know I jump and who heard about Shane. It's been astounding and they just keep coming in. It's amazing evidence that Shane touched a lot of people beyond this misfit little sport of ours and he will certainly be remembered as an inspiration to kids and adults around the world.
-C.