Sam and I went down to McCall Hall last night to watch the new movie chronicling the life of skier/BASE jumper Shane McConkey. The movie is aptly named McConkey. First of all I was shocked to see that the hall was packed to the rafters for what I would consider a fairly obscure movie. Secondly I wasn't prepared for the rave-like scene, I guess I'm an old fogey.
Whenever the subject of extreme skiing comes up I can't help but think back to the old Burt Reynolds/Jan Michael Vincent movie Hooper wherein Burt is celebrating his world record jump from a helicopter when he looks up to see JMV leaping from a helicopter even higher: you're only as good as your last trick. Pushing your limits for personal reasons is cool, pushing your limits for money usually ends up with someone pushing your casket.
McConkey was jumping off of insanely low objects and pulling releasing the chute lower and lower, he was on a road, and that road led to a dead end, literally. The guy had a lust for life was inspiring, but I'll take a pass on the low pulls.
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