After 14 years of companionship, you are the best partner — VASQUE Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race
On November 17, China’s earliest trail running event and also the country’s longest-running sponsored trail race — the VASQUE Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race — successfully concluded at Hangzhou Baita Park. As the title sponsor of the event, the VASQUE brand has accompanied the race through 14 years of ups and downs since 2006. From Wushan Square, Huanglong Stadium, Hangzhou Botanical Garden to Baita Park, VASQUE has been there for all 14 years. We are delighted to share the joy of running with everyone and witness your continuous growth.
Where is VASQUE?
In the heart
The weather on race day this year was exceptionally good — warm, dry, and with beautiful autumn scenery. Early in the morning, participants gathered at the starting area, including many runners who have joined the VASQUE Trail Running Race for several consecutive years.
Good legs, good shoes
The VASQUE booth also displayed the beloved VASQUE trail running shoes, which quickly attracted the attention of runners.
At the VASQUE booth, everyone could see the familiar range of trail running shoes.
The male and female champions of the individual categories each received a pair of VASQUE Trailbender II endurance trail running shoes.
Veteran runners of the VASQUE Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race
Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co., Ltd. was awarded the title of “Outstanding Event Sponsor” by the organizing committee. This prestigious honor represents the high recognition everyone has for VASQUE and Shenzhen Himalaya. For many years, Shenzhen Himalaya has focused on representing top European and American outdoor brands in the Chinese market, dedicated to introducing high-quality outdoor gear, providing comprehensive support for people to connect with nature and enjoy safe outdoor activities, and standing alongside all participants, staff, and partners. Together, they have brought the VASQUE Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race into the best era of trail running.
Zhao Kai, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen Himalaya, and Luo Xiping, Race Director, take a photo together.
Continuing the tradition of past years, we once again provided finishers with a special gift. This year’s gift is — the Finisher Goodie Bag !
In addition to VASQUE Tmall coupons, UD flagship store coupons, and BD flagship store information, we also randomly included two vouchers for VASQUE running shoes worth 1,299 RMB in the goodie bags !
Participants who finished the race on-site were thrilled to open their goodie bags. Even those who didn’t win a voucher were very happy to receive a finisher bag. Our original intention for the goodie bags was to wish everyone a smooth and enjoyable race experience. Many runners expressed their love for the goodie bags, and we’re glad everyone enjoyed this small gift. We hope that in future races, the VASQUE Finisher Goodie Bag will continue to accompany everyone as they complete one race after another.
Those who didn’t get a goodie bag on-site shouldn’t be discouraged — you can still scan the QR code below to claim a 50 RMB VASQUE coupon !
Due to adjustments in brand product strategy, VASQUE will no longer serve as the title sponsor of the Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race next year.
Looking back on the 14-year journey of the trail race, we are incredibly proud to have been part of and contributed to the rise and development of trail running in the Chinese market:
In October 2006, VASQUE began its title sponsorship of the Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race. The picturesque scenery of West Lake, the fresh air of the Longjing tea fields, and the challenging yet rewarding atmosphere made it a memorable experience for all participants.
In 2007, the number of participants increased to 234, and both individual and relay race formats were introduced.
In 2008, the Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race was jointly title-sponsored by VASQUE and GORE-TEX. The VASQUE GORE-TEX Trail Running Series was held in three cities and expanded to five cities in 2009.
In 2011, registration for the Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race filled up in just three days, a record that has been continuously broken since then: half a day, three hours...
In 2013, race shirts featuring the phrase “I Love Trail Running” appeared. In 2014, the VASQUE Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race got its own slogan: “Over Mountains and Valleys.”
In 2016, the race start moved to Baita Park by the Qiantang River, and the first “Trail Dog” concept souvenir was launched. In subsequent years, custom finisher souvenirs continued to evolve — such as the golden VASQUE bell in 2017 symbolizing “What is remembered lives,” and the 2019 finisher goodie bags. The Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race may not be the longest or toughest trail race in China, but it is definitely the most “artsy.”
In 2018, VASQUE trail running shoes were included in the participant package for the first time. The hills of West Lake in November witnessed the stories of runners and their VASQUE shoes.
Our passion for trail running and enthusiasm for outdoor sports will continue, and we hope to see you again on the mountains, continuing to embrace the wild !
About Vasque
Vasque is a subsidiary of the world-renowned Red Wing Shoe Company. Founded in 1905 in Minnesota, USA, Red Wing is a family-owned and operated company renowned for manufacturing high-quality work boots. In 1964, Red Wing established a company called Voyager, specializing in outdoor footwear. In 1972, the brand name was changed to Vasque, which has since become synonymous with high-quality outdoor footwear. A memorable year in the company’s history is 1984, marked by two key events: the launch of the Sundowner model, a classic Vasque style that remains popular to this day, and the beginning of shoe production in Asian factories. This allowed Vasque to maintain its high-quality standards while remaining highly competitive in today’s global market.
About Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co., Ltd. was established in 2002 by outdoor sports enthusiasts. It specializes in distributing professional outdoor brands from Europe and America in the Chinese market, dedicated to introducing high-quality outdoor gear and providing comprehensive support for your connection with nature and safe, convenient outdoor activities. After more than a decade of development, the brands it represents have expanded from professional outdoor equipment to running and sports medicine gear.
The headquarters of Shenzhen Himalaya Trading Co., Ltd. is located in Shenzhen, China, with an office in Beijing. For more information, please visit himalayagears.com.cn. Contact: Shenzhen 0755-82132348, Beijing 010-67782827; Email: info@himalayagears.com.cn