An brief encounter in West-China and a portrait of one of Italy’s most versatile mountain athletes.

I first met William Boffelli in a park in Chengdu, three days before we headed into the higher mountains of Sichuan Province. He looked weary, weighed down by jet lag and the unfamiliar chaos of a megacity. Chengdu was not the type of place where William seemed at ease. Interested, curious, but also overwhelmed.

In April last year I had the opportunity of photographing Sunmaya Budha, the remarkable Nepali trail runner, during the Fuga Athlete Training Camp in Italy. What was meant to be a short photoshoot on a rocky trail above the Amalfi Coast turned into something unforgettable when weather decided otherwise. Heavy rain and strong gusts swept over the ridge, and yet Sunmaya never complained. Even as the rain hit her face sideways, she kept the famous smile she is known for in the international trail running community — warm and inspiring.

Three days between jobs in Italy. I could think of worse scenarios. Especially when a rocky mountain range appears on the left side of the window while driving down the freeway, looking for a pizza place near Pisa.

On quite short notice I got the go, to fly to Chengdu, to follow the international Kailas Fuga Team on their China adventures. The small group of runners from Italy and Spain came to west China to participate in the legendary Four Sisters Ultra Trail. The race is famous for its high altitude and the stunning 6,000-meter peaks that surround the valleys. The nature was just spectacular: golden trees, snow-covered peaks, trails on all sides of the mountains.

With my camera, I followed the athletes on their training runs, races and ambassador duties.

Luke’s story is wild: a lifelong athlete, stage four cancer survivor in his early 20s, cycled from Bristol to Beijing during a pandemic on a tandem (almost made it), and now a trail running pro with a UTMB index of 878. Wow.

A small group of the international Kailas Fuga Trail Running Team visited a new Kailas store in Chengdu as part of their trip to China.

Sometimes, all you need is a little time alone. No signal, no noise. Just a pair of trail shoes, a map, and the promise of three days somewhere high above everything else. That was the idea behind this trip: crossing the Pfunderer Höhenweg from St. Georgen to Sterzing in two and a half days, running against the usual direction, chasing something I couldn’t quite name.

It’s been a bit more than a week since I returned from my Japan trip. Here are some thoughts from a first-time visitor of the country—things that might be useful if you’re thinking about heading to Japan in winter.

During the Craft Elite Trail Running Team Meeting in Germany, we were commissioned to create a series of natural, authentic portraits of the team’s athletes. Shot entirely in black and white and with natural light, the images strip away distractions, highlighting the personality, and dedication that define each runner.

At dawn, the Gobi Desert unfolded in silence—a world of endless dunes and shifting light. Alone in this vastness, I moved through towering sand ridges, each step sinking into the untouched landscape. The sheer scale, the solitude, the way the morning light painted the dunes—it was a moment that felt both infinite and fleeting. This photo essay is my attempt to capture that quiet, raw beauty, a reflection of a morning that will stay with me forever.

Capturing the 2024 Ultra Gobi 400km was an unforgettable experience, documenting one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges in the heart of the Gobi Desert. Over the course of several days, we followed the athletes through the vast landscapes of the Gobi Desert, capturing the grit, determination, and solitude of this unique challenge. From the early morning starts to the deep silence of the desert night, our goal was to translate the raw essence of this extreme adventure into compelling visuals.

From the work grind straight to the mountains: how we did the Stubaier Höhenweg with over 100 KM in just two and a half days on a random weekend last summer.

We were invited to shoot the spring trail running camp of Craft Sportswear.

A light layer of snow can work wonders. It’s like a natural heatmap, revealing hidden trails I’d otherwise miss. It’s one of the most effective ways for me to explore new terrain.

We’ve made a big move: from southern Germany to northeast China, to a city many have probably never heard of – Shenyang.

We had the pleasure of shooting the first trail running camp of the 26.Miles Munich running community. Even before the official market launch, the participants had the opportunity to put the brand new Hoka Speedgoat 6 through their paces on the trails near Munich. We tried our best to follow them on steep uphills and relentless downhills.

Berge über 5.000 Meter Höhe. Unendlich viele unberührte Täler. Unverspurte Hänge auch Wochen nach dem letzten Schneefall. Gutes und günstiges Essen. Georgien hat alles, was das Skitourenherz höher schlagen lässt.

Der Plan war ein ganz anderer. Aber Neuschnee und Wind führten dazu, dass wir die geplante Route schon innerhalb der ersten Stunden über den Haufen warfen. Statt drei Gipfel standen wir nur bei einem ganz oben und auch die 3.000 Höhenmeter im Anstieg ließen sich dieses Mal nicht knacken. Dafür war es einfach zu kalt. -20° Grad ist halt schon eine Ansage. Und im Januar wird es trotz Sonne auch nicht viel wärmer. Dennoch: vielleicht die beste Skitour des Jahres?

Highs. Lows. Mixed terrain. 2024 hatte es alles. Der Blick zurück auf das Trail Running Jahr fällt zwei geteilt aus.

Anfang Mai waren wir auf der Suche nach schneefreien Trail und Höhenmetern. Die ersten Trail Running Races waren in Reichweite und der miserable Frühling hat uns allen zugesetzt. Also nutzten wir das lange Wochenende und es ging über den Brenner. Sterzing stellte sich als gute Base für drei Tage, harte Uphills und knapp 90 KM heraus.