Becoming the third person to complete the race
in under 20 hours, Walmsley crossed the prestigious 106.2 mile
race's finish line in 19:37:43
CHAMONIX, France, Sept. 2,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Crossing the finish line in
19:37:43, HOKA®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK),
sponsored athlete, Jim Walmsley,
became the first American Man to win the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc.
Since moving to Arêches-Beaufort, France in 2022, Walmsley has been
hyper-focused on his preparation for UTMB. He finished 4th at the
race in 2022 and opened his 2023 ultra-trail season on the UTMB®
World Series with a win at the Istria 100 by UTMB® in Croatia.
The Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc is regarded as the most prestigious
and competitive ultra-trail running event in the world. The
breathtaking course features over 32,687 feet of elevation gain on
its 106.2 mile trail around the Mont Blanc, taking runners through
France, Italy, and Switzerland. Since its start in 2003, the
event has remained committed to its founding principles: surpass
one's limits, play fair, and respect people and the
environment.
With an average speed of 8.78 km/hour, and overall time of
19:37:43, Walmsley came in under the course record time recorded
last year by Kilian Journet. He also
becomes the third person to finish what is considered one of the
most technical courses in the world in under 20 hours.
"Jim continues to amaze the trail running community," says
Mike McManus, Director of Global
Sports Marketing at HOKA. "After a 4th place finish last year, he
made it his mission to arrive at the 2023 race in the best position
to win. His move to the French Alps is just one example of his
unwavering dedication to the sport and this race. We are honored
and humbled to have him on the HOKA team."
Immediately following the race, Jim said, "Surprisingly, I
battled a lot of lows throughout the night and throughout the whole
race, and I'm shocked that things clicked right in the end. I feel
really lucky that I got the last run and good push, and was able to
hold on to the finish, because I was falling apart."
The HOKA brand's continued partnership as the Premiere Footwear
and Apparel Sponsor of the UTMB® World Series is rooted in a
shared mission to inspire trail athletes throughout the world,
while continuing to make the sport more accessible. As a leading
innovator in the trail running space, HOKA remains committed to
creating best-in-class footwear and apparel products for those
seeking to perform to their fullest potential on the trails and
beyond.
Walmsley wore an unnamed HOKA prototype trail shoe throughout
the 106.2 mile race. HOKA continues to be a leader in the technical
trail footwear space, with beloved franchises including the
Speedgoat, Tecton X and Mafate. Whether you are looking for a
max-cushioned workhorse for easy miles, or a highly-responsive race
shoe with carbon fiber propulsion, HOKA has a trail shoe for every
runner. For more information on all of HOKA's trail offerings,
click HERE.
About HOKA®
HOKA® is one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and
apparel brands in history. Conceived in the mountains, HOKA
footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced
cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. Every day, HOKA
pushes the innovation and design of its footwear and apparel by
teaming up with a deep roster of world champions, taste makers and
everyday athletes. From finish lines to everyday life, HOKA
fans love the brand for its bold and unexpected approach, and
its belief in the power of humanity to create change for a better
world. HOKA empowers a world of athletes to fly over the earth. For
more information, visit HOKA.com or follow @HOKA.
#FlyHumanFly
To learn more about HOKA, please visit hoka.com.
About Deckers Brands
Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and
distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed
for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance
activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG®,
KOOLABURRA®, HOKA®, Teva®, and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are
sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select
department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail
stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites.
Deckers Brands has over 50-years of history building niche footwear
brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal
consumers globally. For more information, please
visit www.deckers.com.
HOKA Media Contacts
Miranda Young
HOKA Global Brand
Communications
miranda.young@hoka.com
OutsidePR
HOKA@OutsidePR.com
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