Erik Roner, died on September 28, 2015, an extreme sports athlete who was part of MTV’s Nitro Circus crew, appeared in Jackass 3D and hosted Locals for Outside Television, was killed today in a parachuting accident near the Squaw Valley resort at Lake Tahoe, CA.
Erik was in his late 30s. The resort said Erik was part of a four-man jump team performing for the opening ceremony of a local celebrity golf tournament when he struck a tree while trying to land and became suspended high above the ground.
He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Erik was a well-known extreme skier and BASE jumper who appeared on MTV’s two-season series Nitro Circus and the group’s 2012 Nitro Circus: The Movie. The collective also released nearly a dozen straight-to-DVD titles.
A self-described Hunter S. Thompson devotee, Erik’s bio on his website quoted the gonzo journalist: “Faster, faster, faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”
As host of Outside’s Locals, he traveled “to the most intriguing outdoor communities around the world, showcasing hidden gems not revealed in guidebooks.”
“There are no words that can express this tremendous loss to the Outside Television family,” Rob Faris, Senior VP Programming and Production at Outside Television, said in a statement.
“Erik Roner was not only a colleague but also a personal friend, and it was a joy to watch him celebrate life on a daily basis. We are still trying to process this tragedy.