Recently, the UTMB Tour de Mont Blanc trail running event publicly announced that the professional sports earphone brand Shokz has become its official and only designated sports earphone. UTMB is the world's largest trail running event, and Shokz is the world's largest sales brand in the two segments of sports headphones and open-back headphones (Sullivan Report 2023 data).
Based on the UTMB professional cross-country racing platform, Shokz will provide cross-country runners and enthusiasts with an open-ear listening experience and a safer and more intimate sports guarantee with its professional sports headphones with open listening technology.
The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) is an annual mountain trail race held in the Alps, with a track spanning about 166 kilometers across three European countries (France, Italy, and Switzerland), and a total of about 9,400 meters around Mont Blanc, which is considered one of the most difficult trail running events in Europe. UTMB is the ultimate running dream of many endurance runners and has become an internationally renowned trail running event. The climate in the Alps is unpredictable, and there are a variety of very bad weather conditions during the race, such as dark nights, cold snow and ice, wind, rain and unpredictable weather conditions, which require absolute competence and experience, as well as the corresponding equipment. Top runners can expect to finish in a little over 20 hours, but most runners take 30-45 hours to finish. The tournament closes 46 hours.
On the other hand, UTMB is also a "semi-self-sufficient" event. The so-called "semi-self-sufficiency" refers to the fact that during the race, the runner needs to have his or her own supply situation. So runners have to evaluate their gear. The requirement of UTMB is that no matter what kind of weather conditions, players must have the ability to support themselves for 2 hours, which is without any outside aid and without any help, which is also the lower limit of UTMB players' self-supply. Therefore, the equipment that can match the UTMB event has the ultimate professional quality. As the only official designated sports earphones of UTMB, trail runners will have the opportunity to experience Shokz products in various segmented events of UTMB, and feel the ultimate performance of Shokz professional sports earphones in the challenge of extreme environments.
A UTMB athlete, who did not want to be named, commented: "As a veteran trail runner and user of Shokz sports headphones, in my opinion, the open shape design of Shokz professional sports headphones can almost adapt to the shape of each athlete's skull to the greatest extent and achieve the effect of comfortable wearing." In addition to the excellent experience brought by its excellent bone conduction technology, the product is also extremely professional and reliable, and it can be used for almost any extreme trail run in the world. ”
Speaking about the hand-in-hand cooperation with Shokz, Frédéric Lénart, CEO of UTMB Group, said: "From letting go of your feet to feeling the mountains, to opening your ears to listen to nature, UTMB and Shokz share a common vision and values in sports philosophy, and we are very happy to be with Shokz. UTMB believes that the natural beauty and soothing music along the trail will inspire runners to reach the finish line.
Yang Yun, CEO of Shokz China, said: "Shokz will reach a global strategic cooperation with this palace-level trail running event and become the only official sports earphone for the UTMB World Series. Shokin will accompany everyone to enjoy the pleasure of trail running together with open listening in more challenging and adventurous trail running events.
With its in-ear open listening technology, Shokz professional sports headphones meet the needs of athletes to enjoy music while taking into account the direct perception of the surrounding environment, so that safety and music are always accompanied. From the official partner of NN Running Team to the official cooperative sports headphones of Keep, Shokz has always been a well-known guest of honor at the world's top sports events and organizations.
During the journey of the UTMB race, the magnificent forest meadows and lakes of the Aran Valley, the 9,400-meter climb of Chamonix, the continuous interweaving of rain and sweat, the sound of footsteps and breathing, one after another, the runners set off all the way to the mountain, constantly exploring the boundaries of nature and exploring the boundaries of themselves. Similarly, Shokz has been exploring the boundaries of headphones, breaking the limitations of traditional headphones, exploring open-back headphones, and exploring the boundaries of technology to create better products.
Live up to your love and gather in the mountains. It is reported that the 2024 Yunqiu Mountain Cross-Country Race by UTMB will be held from April 19 to 21, 2024 in Yunqiu Mountain Scenic Area, Xiangning County, Linfen City. Competitors from all over the world will experience the charm of trail running and the vitality of Shokz sports headphones.