RIP Shane McConkey

Kudos Hank -- exactly my opinion on the matter as well. Thanks for posting it.

A very thoughtful comment from Hank indeed...BUT....

You're still talking apples and oranges. Eric Pehota (if you're going to bring up "Steep")has no disdain for the more ordinary lives we lead. He's about the coolest, most level headed, tolerant guy you'll ever meet and has made very interesting choices for himself and his family - and his kids are very good and aggressive and maybe even 'extreme' skiers too. I seriously doubt Shane did either. They're not saying, 'that Hank guy is a dumbass or isn't living his life well because he sits at a desk all day'. They're saying that it's not the right life for them! There's no judgment there.

The type of comments I fond loathsome in this discussion are those that are judgmental, and many of them are just that. To imply that an extreme athlete does not love his family because he doesn't give up what is important to him is miles apart from an athlete stating in an interview that he would have a hard time living a more 'ordinary' life.

Again, make your choices and own them! That's what these guys - for the most part - do. Be honest with your family and loved ones about those choices (as Shane was) and if they don't like them then you have some issues with which to deal. But don't try to convince me that those guys are lesser human beings or poor husbands and fathers because they do what they do.

But don't try to convince me that those guys are lesser human beings or poor husbands and fathers because they do what they do.

I would dare to say it is impossible to be any kind of husband or parent if you are not present and alive.

Being really good at skiing off large cliffs wearing a wingsuit does not put anybody above (or below) anybody else in terms of "lesser" or "greater" as humans, IMHO. Does that make him/her a "better" person, than say, Tiger Woods, who excels in his field but which does not have the higher level of risk? No.

This month's Outside is the "Adventure" issue and has a lot of coverage on "Risk."  One of the athlete's profiled is Shane.   There is a pretty decent article "This is your brain on adventure" on the science of Risk Taking/Aversion - the theory holding that people are just wired differently.  Sadly, the online version of Outside doesn't contain the article...but here is a link that gives an overview.

outside.away.com/outside/toc/200904.html

Having peered over the edge of professionalism in alpine sports and turning back, basically, "go big or go home" and I went home, I have struggled with these same issues at various times.

Sam Kavanagn, the guy who lost his leg in the excellent avy education film "A Dozen More Turns" put it most eloquently when he gave a presentation at NSAS last year. To paraphrase Sam (who is an amazing person and speaker):

"Your loved ones love you for who you are and what makes up who you are. Don't give up skiing or climbing or whatever you do. However, you family doesn't care if you hucked the 50 ft cliff instead of the 5 foot cliff, they care if you come home."

My apologies for not being as eloquent as Sam.

They're not saying, 'that Hank guy is a dumbass or isn't living his life well because he sits at a desk all day'. They're saying that it's not the right life for them!

I don't know any of these guys personally, but I'll take your word for it. Maybe the media companies find the defiant sound bites more interesting that more thoughtful responses. Maybe these guys feel prejudged and embattled so they understandably respond in kind.