60 seconds with Shane

McConkey on K2, the Spatula and what's next.

Powder: So Shane, everyone wants to know, what does the new deal with K2 mean for the Spatula?

Shane with new teammate Seth Morrison

McConkey: When Atomic bought Volant, they owned a "patent pending." It's my understanding that when a patent expires, it means it's fair game for everyone. I don't think Atomic is planning on doing anything productive at all with Volant, which is too bad. From what I've heard, the Spatula concept is fair game for anyone in the industry right now.

Powder: Does that mean a Spatula-inspired K2 ski might be on the horizon?

McConkey: I just signed, I haven't even been up to kiss babies or shake hands, and I don't want to be their ski engineer or anything, but I'm definitely going to push them to come up with something. The Spatula concept is definitely a specialty ski, a powder-specific ski—which is a money loser—but in this industry, if there's a tool out there that just works better for powder, it needs to happen

Powder: Why K2?

McConkey: I'm relieved to be dialed in with a cool company. There are lots of choices these days, both with old guys and all these new punk lines, but K2 is well-established and has always had it figured out. They're really interested in their athletes when it comes to design input. They don't just sign for name association; they've really dialed in the athlete/company relationship better than anyone in the past 30 years.

Powder: What will you be skiing on this year?

McConkey: I'm not sure exactly. Primarily the [Apache] Chief, but other K2 stuff too.

Powder: What's in store for the season?

McConkey: Traveling, filming. I'm definitely heading back to Europe to find more cliffs. I'm designing a two-parachute BASE jump system for double stagers. I want to do more than just front flips.

Powder: And, more wacky antics.