Joey Hadorn: trail running ambassador

The orienteer and trail runner Joey Hadorn has been an ambassador for the Ascona-Locarno region since 2024. He has already made it to the very top in orienteering with his silver medal in the middle distance and the world championship title in the relay. He has also achieved outstanding international results in trail running, where he is only at the beginning of his career. The athlete is undoubtedly a great promise for the future.

‘When I do something, I want to do it well’
Joey loves to try new things and is very versatile, which allows him to be so successful in two sports. Besides running, biking, work and friends, there isn't much room for other hobbies. Because when the ambitious athlete does something, he wants to do it well.

Joey Hadorn's collaboration with Ascona-Locarno is a return to his roots, so to speak. Even as a child, the man from the Bernese Oberland spent active holidays here on Lake Maggiore with his family and laid the first foundations for his successful career. With bike and running shoes, they headed south, where Joey's parents chased him and his sister up Monte Tamaro by bike at a very young age. A memorable experience that he still remembers with a smile today. The Hadorns were never bored on holiday either. They either explored the peaks, hills and valleys of Ticino on foot or by bike. Later, like every ambitious young Swiss sportsman, he often went to trainings camp at the CST in Tenero. Nature and exercise are what define Joey and make him the perfect ambassador for Ascona-Locarno. ‘I am delighted to be a part of Ascona-Locarno.’

Ascona-Locarno: Ideal trainings conditions for runners
Joey spends most of the year abroad in training camps or at competitions. But when he is here, he enjoys having the best training conditions not far from home all year round. He is particularly drawn to Ticino before the start of the season, when the temperatures here are already spring-like and pleasantly warm.

From orienteer to trail runner: it's not easy to reconcile the two, but as both are off-road running sports, they are similar. In spring, Joey, who has just completed his degree in timber construction engineering, got off to an excellent start to the trail running season. For the Ascona Locarno Golden Trail Finals, which take place from 17 to 20 October on Cardada, Locarno's local mountain, he is expecting a strong performance despite his seasonal fatigue.

‘I always enjoy running in Switzerland’
‘The end of the season at the Ascona Locarno Golden Trail Finals will definitely be a very special experience.’ Joey enjoys running in front of a home crowd when his fans and family are there. He also sees the short journey as an advantage and always finds the diversity of Switzerland amazing.

When Joey is in Ticino, he likes the area around Tenero. It's a central location from which the whole of Ticino is easily accessible. Perfect for planning a varied and diverse training programme. However, he is particularly fond of the Onsernone Valley. He finds the seclusion and tranquillity of this idyllic, unspoilt valley particularly beautiful and would even recommend it as his insider tip.