Latest news with #Norrøna
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
Extreme biker dies in Alps: Solo ride turns deadly; Andreas Tonelli falls 600 metres
Andreas Tonelli (@noronna) Extreme mountain biker and social media influencer Andreas Tonelli lost his life in a biking accident on July 15 while riding alone in the Vallelunga area of Val Gardena, located in Italy's South Tyrol region. The 48-year-old was navigating a steep and difficult section of alpine terrain when the incident occurred. He had set out for a late afternoon solo ride, according to the reports by the Italian media. Known for his daring mountain adventures, Tonelli had over 120,000 Instagram followers. His last Instagram story, posted at 7.15 PM, showed him reaching the 2,905-metre summit of Piz Duleda, smiling with his bike slung over his shoulder, against the dramatic backdrop of the valley below. Concerns were raised when Tonelli failed to return by nightfall. A friend, who had begun searching on his own, alerted authorities shortly after 9.00 PM. A search operation was launched by Alpine rescue teams and the Aiut Alpin helicopter, which scoured the mountainous region despite deteriorating weather. Around 1.00 AM, rescuers spotted Tonelli's lifeless body in a deep ravine - an area that proved difficult to access in the dark and amid heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doctors Beg: Take These 4 Ingredients Before Bed to Burn Fat The Healthy Way Learn More Undo His body was eventually recovered the following morning, reported L'Unione Sarda. The exact cause of the fall, estimated to be around 200 metres, remains under investigation by the Carabinieri, given the solo nature of his ride and the lack of witnesses. The biking community and fans across the world mourned the loss of the rider. Norrøna, the premium outdoor apparel brand for which Tonelli was an ambassador, expressed deep sorrow in a social media post. 'Andreas was a passionate, dedicated, and important voice within the Norrøna family… We will remember his big smile and his deep love for mountain biking, for nature, and for the friendships forged out there,' the brand wrote. 'He made a profound impression on everyone fortunate enough to meet him,' it added. Tonelli was not just a face for the brand, but also actively involved in product testing and development, and served as a bike guide for Norrøna Adventure, where he shared his passion for cycling with guests from around the world. Often described as a 'true gentleman,' Tonelli was admired not only for his technical prowess on difficult terrains but also for his humble personality and love for the mountains. His adventurous spirit inspired many through his social media content, which often featured high-altitude rides across the Alps and Dolomites.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Extreme sports influencer falls 600ft to death into Italian Dolomites ravine crash
Extreme sports influencer Andreas Tonelli, 48, is believed to have crashed his mountain bike moments before he plummeted 600ft into a ravine in the Italian Dolomites An extreme sports influencer has died after tragically crashing his bike and plummeting 600ft into a ravine. Andreas Tonelli's family raised the alarm on Tuesday evening after he failed to return home from a ride in the Italian Dolomites, sparking a huge helicopter search at around 9pm. His body was found in a ravine in the Vallunga area of Val Gardena three hours later, and was recovered the following morning. Authorities believe he plummeted from the mountain into the ravine below after a bicycle accident. Tonelli, 48, had 127,000 followers on Instagram, where he regularly shared videos of his daring trips on his mountain bike. One recent video showed him perilously clambering across a rock face using a wire to pull himself across with his bicycle on his back. In 2014, he left what he described as his "boring office job" to become a full-time bike guide. He had been organising bike trips since 2003, including routes across Italy, throughout Europe, and eventually all over the world. Mr Tonelli was also known to be a keen photographer, hiker and climber, and had proudly spoken of his bicycle climb of the active volcano Nevado Ojos de Salado in Chile. Among his feats was the completion of the L'Onda di Hokusai ('Hokusai Wave'), a route in the Dolomites made up nearly entirely of frozen mountaintop, and a successful scaling of the Tupungato volcano in central Chile. The accident on Tuesday unfolded in the Vallunga area of the Italian Dolomites as he tackled a difficult section alone. Just moments before the fatal fall, he posted an Instagram story showing himself smiling at the summit. Andreas was born in the tiny village of Völs am Schlern, at the foot of the Schlern mountain. In a recent comment about his love for travelling, he wrote: "But since I spend seven months a year travelling, I also call home all the other places in the world where I feel happy and free." Tributes have flooded in from within the European mountain biking community, with many speaking of him as an inspirational figure in the sport Outdoor clothing manufacturer Norrona, who Mr Tonelli worked with as a brand ambassador, wrote on Facebook: "Andreas was a passionate, dedicated, and important voice within the Norrøna family. "We will remember his big smile and his deep love for mountain biking, for nature, and for the friendships forged out there. Not only did he take part in testing and developing new Norrøna products, Andreas also worked as a bike guide for Norrøna Adventure — sharing his passion for mountain biking with every guest he met. "He made a profound impression on everyone fortunate enough to meet him. Our heartfelt thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family and friends." One person commenting on the post described him "one of the most inspiring people in the hike and bike adventure scene", while another recalled meeting him on a trail in Norway and described him as a "good person".
