Joey Hadorn: orienteering 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.

Through his collaboration with Ascona-Locarno, Joey is, in a sense, returning to his roots. 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 his 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 offers ideal 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.

Balancing orienteering and trail running is not entirely straightforward. However, as both disciplines are forms of off-road running, their training methods are similar. The Ascona-Locarno region is considered particularly appealing for orienteering: idyllic villages with winding alleyways are unique in Switzerland and provide technically demanding terrain for orienteers.

In April 2026, a World Cup race will take place at Lake Maggiore for the first time – an extraordinary moment for Joey, the region’s Orienteering Ambassador, who will compete on home ground in front of a local audience.

Orienteering World Cup
From 24 to 26 April 2026, more than 250 athletes from around 30 countries will compete against one another at the Orienteering World Cup in the Locarno region. A thrilling spectacle best experienced live, with a unique atmosphere and authentic Ticino traditions.

When Joey is in Ticino, he likes the area around Tenero. Its central location makes it the perfect starting point for quickly reaching all parts of the canton – ideal for varied training sessions.

He is particularly fond of the Onsernone Valley. The seclusion and tranquillity of this idyllic, unspoilt valley impress him time and again. For him, it is a true hidden gem.