This summer, REI staffers Fan Zhou, Emily Frugé, Jeffrey Schmidt and Kailee Esser traveled to Chamonix, France, for the 2023 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, sponsored by HOKA. The race, commonly known as UTMB®, is an historic trail ultramarathon that serves as a bucket-list challenge for amateur and elite ultra-runners from around the world.
One of the most challenging courses a trail runner can tackle, the UTMB® course stretches across 171 kilometers (about 106 miles) of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, with 10,000 meters (nearly 33,000 feet) of elevation gain.
At the base in Chamonix, Zhou, Frugé and Esser—representing different departments at REI from merchandising to vendor partnerships—joined leaders at HOKA (a brand founded in 2009 in Annecy, France, not far from Chamonix) to take in the sights and sounds while sharing a love of running with the community of participants and spectators gathered in the mountains. Here’s what they saw.
It was impressive to witness the presence of HOKA throughout Chamonix leading up to UTMB. From the vendor village to bar and restaurants, you could feel how the brand has exploded in reach while managing to stay true to its roots, “born in the Alps.”
Kailee Esser, program manager, strategic vendor partnerships at REI
The view from a run on the Grand Balcon Nord Trail, which runs parallel but more than 3,000 feet above the town of Chamonix. This part of the trail is near one of the many refugios that dot the Alps. Like huts or cabins along trail systems in the U.S., refugios provide shelter and food to hikers, skiers and runners alike.
Fan Zhou, general manager, activity and merch strategy for Run and Footwear
REI staffers go on a hike in Mer de Glace, the mountains above Chamonix.
From left to right: Kailee Esser, Emily Frugé (senior category manager, Run footwear and Fitness hard goods), Fan Zhou and Jeffrey Schmidt (buyer, Trail Run footwear and Fitness hard goods)
Photo credit: Emily Frugé
We were so fortunate to spend time with HOKA co-founder Nico Mermoud (center), sharing a view of the race’s namesake and the Alps’ highest summit, Mount Blanc. It was surreal listening to Nico’s ski stories as he pointed out the lines he’s ridden.
Kailee Esser
HOKA shoes were everywhere, sported by race attendees, visitors and athletes. Here, HOKA displays its rough-terrain max-cushion option, the Stinson 7.
Photo credit: Kailee Esser
What an adrenaline rush to be a part of the energetic crowd waiting for these incredible athletes to cross the finish line! It was exciting to imagine what they endured over 100+ miles and to cheer them on as they finally reached the end.
Emily Frugé
The indomitable Courtney Dauwalter grabs some high-fives after crossing the finish line. Capping off a year of first-place finishes in major ultras, she won the women’s race.
Fan Zhou
Waiting at the finish line, the announcers made it clear that Jim Walmsley had pulled ahead to first place and was about to be the first American male winner in UTMB’s history—and a HOKA athlete, no less! Watching Jim come down the finish line is a moment I will never forget: the dramatic music, screaming fans, and camaraderie of the crowd celebrating this special moment for Jim and the entire HOKA team. Emily Frugé
Photo courtesy of HOKA