I met Shane about 12 years ago when Oakley first hired me. I had seen him in the MSP movies for years before that, but I didn’t know what to expect when I met him. Turns out, he was just so easy to be around. He made you feel comfortable, made you laugh and took the pressure off. He’s probably the easiest athlete to work with, out of all my guys in 12 years at Oakley. Shane was a good person: easy-going, very modest, no attitude, a comedian and insane athlete. Skiing, base jumping, mountain biking… he excelled at everything he wanted to do.
Even though he was so successful, Shane was always super-appreciative of everything. Shane kept it easy. Every time he got an Oakley box in the mail, whether it was goggles, glasses or a T-shirt, Shane would call and leave a super long, funny, crazy, very stoked message saying thanks for the product. And he did that EVERY time he got a box.
Shane played a huge role in affecting the ski industry. He pretty much brought fat skis into the limelight, him and Brant Moles. He was on the fat skis first, then everyone followed. He pioneered reverse-camber, rockered skis, and reverse sidecut. He came up with those ideas and everyone followed again.
Shane was on Oakley for 16 years. Pat McIlvain signed him back in the Bud Pro Mogul Tour days. Each athlete at Oakley has a folder, with their contracts and stuff. Looking back through Shane’s is really fun. His folder is so thick with old-school exposure and little notes he was writing to Pat Mac back in the day. It was really cool to see that.
Shane was an opinion leader for Oakley — a full trendsetter — and those are the people we’re looking for. Even as he got older, Shane was still leading the charge and people took note and followed.
I don’t think there will be another person like Shane in skiing. There are a lot if icons out there, but what Shane gave to his friends and the ski industry is irreplaceable. I don’t see another icon like that coming around for a long time.
