We have learned from local sources that professional skier, professional BASE jumper, and Nitro Circus stuntman Erik Roner has died in a skydiving accident in Lake Tahoe, California today. Erik was 39 years old.



It’s being reported that Erik was skydiving with three other skydivers: JT Holmes, Aaron McGovern, and Charles Bryant. They were performing an opening act for the Squaw Valley Institute’s annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe today.

Erik reportedly hit a tree while traveling at high speed as he was landing his parachute shortly after 10am today in front of a crowd of 120 people. The impact reportedly killed him upon impact or shortly thereafter. Erik hung 25-feet off the ground in the tree he struck for over 30 minutes while waiting for emergency crews to reach him. Once rescue crews reached him, he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It’s being reported that Aaron McGovern landed first, JT Holmes second, then Erik Roner hit a tree near the landing zone very hard.

“He hit a tree… he hit a tree so hard. I don’t know what happened from there.” Roy Tuscany, owner of High-5s, told TGR over the phone today

Erik grew up in Northern California, played soccer at BYU, has been skydiving and BASE jumping since the year 2000, and is considered one of the co-founders ski BASE jumping. Erik became well known when he joined the Nitro Circus in 2005.



Erik was a local pro skier at Squaw who was always humble and quiet as opposed to his over the top antics on the Nitro Circus.

In a bio that Erik wrote up about himself on his personal website, he quotes Hunter S. Thompson:

“Faster, faster, faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”

Erik is survived by his wife and two young children.

Our most sincere condolences to Erik’s family and friends and all the Lake Tahoe community.