A new film documenting the outrageous life and early death of the man who re-defined extreme skiing will screen at the Newmark Theatre Monday, Oct. 7 at 8 pm. Here’s a preview that should get your juices flowing.

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The film captures Shane McConkey in all of his legendary courage and irreverent humor, shredding impossible mountain lines and launching himself off cliffs James-Bond-style followed by the dramatic opening of his BASE parachute.

McConkey grew up in Squaw Valley and raced at the Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont before dropping out of competitive racing to go his own way, eventually becoming a freeskiing legend and film star who pioneered the gear shift to twin-tip rockers that dominate the slopes these days and experimented with everything from naked skiing to wingsuit flying.

He died at age 39 in 2009 when his parachute failed to open high in the Dolomites.

The film McConkey received high praise in April when it premiered at the Tribeca Film Fest in New York. It will screen in 20 cities this autumn starting with Squaw Valley on Oct. 5, followed by Portland Oct. 7. You can buy tickets to the show here.

And if you can’t make it to the Newmark Oct. 7, you can buy McConkey for $29.95 here:

What: McConkey film screening

When: 8 pm Monday, Oct. 7

Where: Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205

Cost: $23.25. Buy in advance here.

Last modified: September 14, 2013