Extreme skier and base jumper Shane McConkey dies Thursday in mountainside accident

March 28, 4:31 PMAction Sports ExaminerAbigail Baker

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Shane McConkey (Photo: Murray/AP)

Shane McConkey, Canadian extreme skier and base jumper, died Thursday after falling from a 2,000-foot cliff while filming his latest movie in Italy.
McConkey, 39, intended to jump off of a cliff and then to detach his skis and deploy his parachute, thus enabling him to glide safely to the ground.

According to a witness, one of McConkey's skis failed to detach causing him to spin out of control and enabling him from deploying his parachute during a 12-second freefall from the Saspardoi cliff in the Dolomite Mountains.

An innovator of ski-BASE jumping – in which athletes ski off massive cliffs with a parachute in their hand – McConkey starred in dozens of ski films, as well as the 2007 mainstream release "Steep," a documentary about the history of daredevil skiing.

McConkey is survived by his wife, Sherry, and their 3½-year-old daughter Ayla. He will be missed in the action sports community.

Watch this clip from "Steep" staring Shane McConkey