Nitro Circus star Erik Roner dead after accident near Tahoe

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — Action-sports athlete, ski BASE jumping pioneer and Nitro Circus cast member Erik Roner died in a parachuting accident Monday morning near Squaw Valley ski resort.

Roner, a Squaw Valley professional skier known for helping lay the foundation of what ski BASE jumping has become today, was part of a four-man jump team of parachuters for the opening ceremonies of the fourth annual Squaw Valley Institute Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Roner reportedly struck a tree on his descent at about 10 a.m. Monday, and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a statement from Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows. The other jumpers reportedly landed safely.

Roy Tuscany, executive director of the Truckee-based nonprofit High Fives Foundation, told Teton Gravity Research he witnessed the accident.

“He hit a tree ... he hit a tree so hard. I don’t know what happened from there,” Tuscany reportedly said.

For years, Roner had filmed progressive big-mountain ski segments with Teton Gravity Research for several films.

Roner was 37. He is survived by his wife, Annika, and two young children, Oskar and Kasper.

According to the Squaw Valley Institute, Roner regularly dedicated his time to SVI’s efforts.

“The Squaw Valley Institute is mourning Erik’s loss, and their deepest sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time,” according to a statement from the nonprofit.

Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Spokeswoman Liesl Kenney, meanwhile, expressed similar concern on behalf of the famed ski resort.

“Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is profoundly saddened by the loss of Erik Roner,” Kenney said.

“Erik was an incredibly inspiring person, not only as an athlete but as a friend and family man. We will sincerely miss Erik’s presence within this community, and our deepest sympathies are with his family at this time.”

Roner, a well-documented Hunter S. Thompson fan, often quoted the late journalist in interviews and on his website, including the following famous quote that describes the traits one must possess to live a free and spirited life: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a Ride!’”

According to a biography on his website, erikroner.com, after the Northern California native graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from BYU, he put his efforts toward making a name for himself in the ski industry.

“His athleticism has earned him features in numerous major ski films, accolades from magazines such as Powder, Skiing, Outside, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, FHM, and sponsorship from Hurley, Rockstar, Scott, Klint, DNA and Backcountry.com,” according to his bio.

Roner — known as a co-pioneer of ski BASE jumping along with fellow Squaw Valley skier, the late Shane McConkey — has made numerous first descent ski BASE lines from Chile to Argentina to Alaska to New Zealand and all over Europe.

In 2005 Motocross legend Travis Pastrana, and the Nitro Circus crew contacted Roner to help BASE jump dirt bikes into the Grand Canyon, and he eventually joined Nitro Circus, the extreme stunt-based group of daredevils that enjoyed two seasons on MTV, a sold out live World Tour, and the recent completion of a 3D feature film.

He’s been sponsored by Rockstar, Hurley, Klint, Scott, DNA, EVA and Backcountry.com, among others.

Recently, Roner was a part “Hula Tribe 4 High Fives,” a 50-member team participating in the fall 2013 Tough Mudder event at Northstar California that included skier Rory Bushfield and High Fives recovering athletes, including Tuscany.