Category: Event

Thibaut heads to the US for TNF 50

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier tired on the floor

Thibaut Garrivier enjoyed his first experience of racing in the United States last weekend at the TNF 50 in San Francisco. Read on for a snapshot of Thibaut’s race and his time in the US.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier starts the race with a headtorch

A first sport experience in the US very rewarding on several points, and firstly going to hang a podium in-extremis in the last bump of this player course but without respite 82 km and 3000+.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier runs down a hill

In the first climb the pace seems to me to run more than 6 hours like that, but the following confirm that I lack of energy and I am one of the first to let go of the leading group of 9 riders who will scatter in the climb next.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier grimaces during the race

I take the riders one by one to Robbie Simpson at the 50th kilometer. I am then 4th and I have little hope to better see the state of fatigue. Yet motivated to join the finish with Darren Thomas and take Anthony Costales to 10km, synonymous with podium since Darren gives a good layer on the Golden Gate and escapes irremediably.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier mid-race at TNF 50

Beside that, a rewarding human experience shared with Romain throughout California (Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz), visiting the HOKA ONE ONE US family in Santa Barbara.

HOKA fan Thibaut Garrivier crosses the line third

A conclusive and motivating experience, with several projects in mind to put in place in the years to come.

HOKA athlete Thibaut Garrivier all smiles after TNF 50

HOKA on the podium at Trail World Championships

HOKA athlete Nicolas Martin runs up a hill

Last weekend saw a number of HOKA athletes compete for their countries at the 2019 IAU and ITRA World Trail Running Championships.

Team Italy do the conga in the town square

There was a feelgood festival vibe as more than 400 athletes from around the world descended on the Portuguese town of Miranda Do Corvo to tackle the 44km race.

HOKA athlete Julien Rancon relaxes before the event

Athletes kicked back to conserve as much energy as possible on the eve of the race. The technical terrain would feature more than 2,200m of climbing and certainly put the athletes through their paces.

HOKA athlete Marco de Gasperi runs up a steep hill surrounded by supporters.

The atmosphere on race day was electric. Team HOKA were represented in the men’s event by Italy’s Marco de Gasperi and the French quartet of Julien Rancon, Ludovic Pommeret, Nicolas Martin and Emmanuel Meyssat.

HOKA athlete Nicolas Martin grimaces and sprints in the final straight

Fans flanked the course to help propel the athletes to the finish line. Nicolas certainly channeled the energy from the crowds and made every second count.

HOKA athlete Julien Rancon runs with the France flag and finishes second.

It turned out to be an excellent day for Julien and the France national trail running team. Julien, who specialises in shorter-distance trail running, surged into second position with a quarter of the race to run and didn’t look back.

HOKA athlete Julien Rancon in tears at the end of the race

“I was far back on the start line and had to make an effort to get up with the leading group.  I didn’t really enjoy the first part as it was very technical, so stayed patient until the first refreshment station.  I felt very good going uphill, got into second at the top of the course and managed to keep my second place to the line. Crossing the line was a very emotional moment.” HOKA athlete Julien Rancon.

HOKA athletes fly the France flag with team gold

The athletes, fans and organisers certainly made the 2019 World Trail Running Championships epic. Julien led the French quartet featuring HOKA athletes Nicolas, Emmanuel and Ludovic to team gold. Bravo team France: world trail running champions 2019.

Podium in Portugal

Photo credit: PEIGNÉE VERTICALE

HOKA elite athlete training camp in pictures

HOKA athletes running in the sunset

More than 50 of our elite athletes came together last weekend to live, sleep and breathe all things HOKA ONE ONE at our annual training camp in Mallorca.

HOKA athlete Susie Cheetham registers for the weekend

A number of our star-studded athletes from road, trail and triathlon, including Susie Cheetham (pictured above), headed to the Hotel Viva Blue in Muro for an action-packed weekend and chance to meet the rest of the HOKA family.

HOKA athletes training on the trails

The weekend started with a run. How else? Our trail athletes epitomised the “go everywhere, run everything” attitude as they put the Speedgoat 3 through its paces on their Friday morning shake-out run. It was the perfect leg-loosener before spending a couple of hours in the classroom.

HOKA athletes Thibaut Garrivier and Marie Perrier listen intently

Our athletes listened in as they learned the story behind HOKA ONE ONE. They heard how radical change often comes about in trying to solve a simple problem – and how redesigning a shoe that helps an athlete tackle 100 miles in challenging conditions can actually help all runners perform.

HOKA athlete Harry Jones takes a picture of HOKA shoes

We do things differently – as trail athlete Harry Jones discovered. As well as learning about the patented elements that influence every shoe we build, the entire team was introduced to the latest HOKA products and exciting innovations.

HOKA athletes on the beach in Mallorca

Breaking out of the classroom – and reaching for the sky. There was just enough time on Friday afternoon to head down to the beach for a flying group shot to celebrate International Women’s Day and our boundary-breaking HOKA athletes.

HOKA athlete and team manager Julien Chorier smiling at dinner

And it was all smiles throughout the rest of the weekend as our athletes were papped in the latest HOKA products in cool and inspiring locations across the island. One weekend. One team. One HOKA family.

HOKA athlete Emma Pallant running in the Carbon Rocket

Photo credit: PEIGNÉE VERTICALE

Meeting the night head on at exclusive Fly at Night launch

HOKA co-founder Nico Mermoud leads the Fly at Night fitness class

For one night only, HOKA ONE ONE took over the premium KXU Gym in the heart of west London for an exclusive event to celebrate the launch of the new Fly at Night Collection.

Gym scene at the HOKA Fly at Night event in London

The night started with HOKA co-founder Nico Mermoud sharing the story behind the brand. From the over-sized prototype built to help people run faster on the mountains to the stylish and responsive Fly at Night Collection fit for the road, gym and everywhere in between. It’s been quite an evolution.

HOKA co-founder Nico Mermoud explains the evolution of the HOKA brand

HOKA athletes Jenny Nesbitt and Adam Hickey were on hand to share some insight into the life of a HOKA elite athlete. They also told us what flying in HOKA means to them and explained more about the unique features of the Fly at Night Collection.

HOKA elite athlete Jenny Nesbitt runs on the treadmill at the Fly at Night event in London

Jenny, who runs 90 miles a week, every day of the week, often twice a day, says: “When I first saw the HOKA shoe, I thought, ‘Wow that’s a big shoe!’ Only when I held the shoe and put it on did I discover how lightweight it was. The Fly at Night Cavu offers me the sort of support and responsiveness I didn’t feel I was getting with other brands. It also looks super cool.”

HOKA elite athlete Adam Hickey runs on the treadmill at the Fly at Night event in London

Adam, English national cross country champion and father of two, says: “I’m a firefighter as well as a HOKA athlete, so often do twelve-hour shifts before I even get to go running. My legs are exhausted before I get started! The Fly at Night Mach has the perfect level of cushioning and lightness – and has certainly helped keep me running consistently.”

Participants stretch off at HOKA Fly at Night event in London

Specially designed for running at night, the Fly at Night Mach features black reflective logos, a reflective heel tab on the lightweight upper, and a reflective midsole. It is a versatile running shoe with a bold, black as night look designed to help you meet the night head on.

Participants do exercises at the HOKA Fly at Night event in London

Made for those who run but don’t just run, the Fly at Night Cavu isn’t just built for the outdoors – as the evening’s HIIT and Run sessions proved. The Cavu features our much lauded “intelligent” PROFLY cushioning. Softer in the heel for shock absorption and firmer in the forefoot for propulsion and energy return – the perfect ammunition for a workout that involved dumbbells as much as it did treadmills.

Everybody was put through their paces as they got the chance to put the Fly at Night Collection to the test. The results?

Participant lifts dumbbells at HOKA Fly at Night event in London

Kieran, freelance writer and HOKA convert, says: “It was fantastic to be among the first to put the new Fly at Night series to the test at probably the swankiest gym I’ve ever been to. But once we hit the floor and the treadmills for the HIIT & Run sessions, it was more sweat than glamour. With a mix of strength and condition and hill sprints, it really gave us and the shoes a thorough workout!”

Participants stretch after the workout at HOKA Fly at Night event in London

Isaac, exhausted journalist and HOKA fan, says: “I thoroughly enjoyed putting the Mach and Cavu Fly at Night through their paces. Both shoes are impressively lightweight, but manage to combine that with HOKA’s trademark cushioning, which makes for a winning formula. The class itself was great, in the sense that it was absolutely knackering!”

Find out more about the Fly at Night Collection