The founder of the International Free Skiing Association has died.

The founder of the International Free Skiing Association has died.

Shane McConkey, 39, experienced problems in the air after jumping off of a 2,000 foot cliff in Corvara, Italy. According to witnesses on site, his skis failed to detached, causing a spin that prevented him from deploying his parachute.

The jump was to be part of his newest film release, a follow up to the 2007 film “Steep.”

McConkey had successfully completed base jumps around the globe, including jumps in China and Mexico early this season.

According to McConkey sponsor Red Bull, which had financed the trip, Italian emergency responders arrived within minutes and pronounced him dead at the scene.

According to Matchstick Productions, the film company, fellow ski-base jumper J.T. Holmes had completed his jump and was waiting below. “McConkey performed a double back-flip from the cliff and planned to release his skis and fly in his wingsuit, a stunt he’s executed a number of times,” Homes said. “But when both skis failed to release McConkey went into a upside down position as he manually attempted to release his bindings.”

He did eventually get the skis to release but could not also get his chute to fully deploy.

The innovator of ski-base jumping he had long been associated with the best and brightest in the field of big mountain skiing. A California native from a prominent skiing family McConkey will be sadly missed. He leaves a wife, Sherry, and three and a half year old daughter Ayla in Squaw Valley.