Two Passionate Brands Team Up to Support Trail Runners
The trail beckons, offering adventure and wonder for those willing to traverse its winding paths. UTMB® World Series and Suunto have answered the call, announcing a new global partnership fitting of their shared outdoor heritage.
As the Official GPS Watch and Technical Partner of the UTMB World Series, Suunto brings its decades of experience empowering adventurers across the world’s wild places. Their award-winning multisport watches will help runners navigate over 1,600 kilometers of iconic trails spanning six continents.
Kindred Spirits United by the Trail
Both brands share a passion for sports and the great outdoors that drives their purpose. For over 80 years Suunto has equipped explorers and athletes to push new boundaries, much like the UTMB® community.
“We firmly believe that collaboration empowers companies, communities, and individuals to evolve,” said Hannu Korpivaara, Suunto Brand and Marketing Director. “It fosters relationship-building, innovation, and effective problem-solving. We are honored to partner with the UTMB World Series and to connect with all the runners out there. Together, we aim to contribute to the positive development of trail running and help individual runners reach their goals.”
This ethos perfectly aligns with the UTMB® World Series and its mission to unite the global trail running community.
“We are delighted to join forces with Suunto who has over 80 years’ experience in creating products that runners can rely on in the most extreme conditions,” said Frédéric Lénart, UTMB Group CEO. “With Suunto becoming Technical Partner of the UTMB World Series, we will enable runners to live adventure that stays with them forever, helping them to take the first step and keep on moving.”
Intuitive Tools to Reach New Heights
The partnership will see Suunto support athletes across the 41 UTMB® World Series events worldwide. Their multisport watches packed with innovative features are designed specifically for the demands of trail running.
With the Vertical and Race models, runners can easily download detailed GPS maps for every race on the circuit. These maps highlight key terrain details, landmarks, and water sources – everything needed to navigate new trails with confidence.
And when combined with Suunto’s robust training tools, runners have an intuitive system to monitor workouts, recovery and progress. This insight ultimately helps athletes prepare their minds and bodies to achieve new goals on race day.
Carrying on the UTMB® Spirit
In many ways, the alliance brings together two brands that helped establish the trail running community from the very beginning.
Suunto has long supported elite trail runners like UTMB® champions Courtney Dauwalter, Francois D’Haene and Pau Capell. The Finnish company also shares the UTMB® ethos centered on adventure, sustainability, fair play and solidarity.
As trail running continues to evolve globally, the partnership enables both Suunto and UTMB® World Series to carry on as driving forces – equipping athletes while bringing positive change.
The 2023 Season Beckons
With Suunto on board as GPS partner, runners can look forward to an epic season of UTMB® World Series action kicking off this month.
The Tarawera Ultra-Trail New Zealand by UTMB from the 17-18 February fires the starting gun. Spanning lush forests and volcanic peaks, the inaugural 2023 event promises stunning vistas at every turn.
Over 8,000 runners will toe the line across five distances, from the 15km Tawawera to the 102km Ultra-Trail. The weekend also hosts the Oceania Ultra-Trail World Championships, where some of the southern hemisphere’s best will go head-to-head.
An Unforgettable Global Journey
Tarawera launches a monumental calendar featuring 41 events across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. From the tropical rainforests of Brazil to the high peaks of the European Alps – each UTMB® World Series race offers its own unique adventure.
The season culminates at the prestigious UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix, France. Only the world’s top trail runners will have the chance to compete for glory at this pinnacle event.
Until then, thousands will embark on their own journeys, experiencing the incomparable spirit found only on the UTMB® trails. And with their Suunto watch in hand, runners will navigate each step with confidence to reach their personal finish lines.
The trail beckons to all those daring to dream big. Together, the UTMB® World Series and Suunto equip athletes to chase every mountain, while preserving wild places for generations to come. The partnership promises more epic tales, forged by boundless adventure across the world’s most stunning terrain.
