Glenn McConkey
A Chat with the Oldest Competitor
When Shane McConkey, president of the IFSA, told the press his mom had just entered the women’s division of the US Freeskiing Extreme Nationals, jaws dropped. At 56, she was by far the oldest competitor to every enter an extreme freeskiing event. But as a masters racer, former silver medalist in the 1960 Olympics at Squaw Valley, not to mention the mom of arguably the best extreme freeskier in the world, we knew she had the right stuff.

Question: So what motivated you to enter this competition?

Glenn: It was Shane’s activity in the organization and his friends and it’s an intriguing competition. I can’t remember who said it first, but when it came down to it the day before the competition started, I came over here and he was like, "you’re going."

Did you have a good time?

The expression was it fun or a good time isn’t very appropriate. When you are in the starting gate it’s very exciting and challenging and when it’s over you have this feeling of elation like you’ve accomplished something. That’s the most wonderful feeling because you want to get all the way through it to the finish line so that you can feel successful and that elation.

How old are you?

56.

Do you think that what you’ve done by entering this competition will motivate other women in your age group?

I’m a masters ski racer and the women in their 50’s are the best women ski racers in the world. We beat all the 40-year-olds and all the 30-year-olds and all the guys sometimes. The point that we want to get across is that it’s not only OK for women our age to be athletic, but it’s really fun and exciting and it’s a good way to stay in shape and eat nutritious foods. I mean, that’s what we talk about all the time—and getting stronger and how to stay strong longer.

We didn’t have mentors and we are the mentors now and we see the young women in this contest and we are so proud of them. They are having a youth that we didn’t have and it’s just great.

—Kathleen Gasperini, Mountain Zone Correspondent

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