OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – World-famous skiers and snowboarders are pulling out their tutus, tights, and tube socks in anticipation of the 2026 Pain McShlonkey Classic, Tahoe’s funkiest ski competition of the year. The public event is happening on March 21, 2026, at Palisades Resort to raise money for the Shane McConkey Foundation and its mission of inspiring student action to protect the planet.
Dressed in their most ridiculous outfits, sixty local amateurs will have the opportunity to compete against the top ski pros in this race down the Palisades mountain. Each contestant will start atop the K22 lift, known for some of the steepest lines in America, and traverse its slopes to finish the fastest. The winner will be given the coveted Pain McShlonkey Golden Saucer, putting them among other iconic
winners, including Olympian Daron Ralves, Freeskier Michelle Parker, and Media Personality “Donny Pelletier” – the men’s 2025 winner. The event will conclude with activities open to anyone, including the Epic Gear Raffle, where $20,000 of prizes will be awarded.
“The Pain McShlonkey is hilarious, celebratory, and fun,” remarks Vicki Isacowitz, a Truckee business owner who volunteered for last year’s event. “It’s really fun to celebrate Shane with […] the best winter athletes. It’s a time for friends, both new and old, to come together”.
The money raised from the event will fund the Shane McConkey Foundation’s annual EcoChallenge, which challenges and guides students countrywide to solve an environmental issue in their community. The initiative was started by the organization’s founder, Sherry McConkey, to carry on her husband’s extreme skiing legacy and empower students to protect the environment he cherished. In 2025, the
foundation gave away $27,500 to student projects.
Sherry reflects on why the Pain McShlonkey is so important. “Life is so serious right now, and there’s so much going on in the world. We’re seeing global warming, we’re seeing plastic everywhere, we’re seeing overconsumption,” she says. “I love the Pain McShlonkey because it’s a day to not take life seriously. You can come to appreciate our beautiful planet and support the children that are so essential for its future.”
Registrations for the Pain McShlonkey opened February 1. For more info, go to shanemcconkey.org.
About The Shane McConkey Foundation: Founded by Sherry McConkey in 2011, the volunteer-run organization empowers youth to protect the environment through their annual Don’t Drop The Top and EcoChallenge initiatives. Through these programs, they’ve distributed over $1 million dollars, engaged thousands of students, and removed more than 8000lbs of waste from landfills to be reused.