Hoka signs pair of top Canadians

Hoka One One has landed one of Canada’s greatest men’s distance runners, and one of its most celebrated ultrarunners.

The brand famous for starting the “maximalist” shoe trend signed Cam Levins, formerly the national record holder in the 10,000m, to a sponsorship deal. Hoka was founded in France in 2009 by two former Salomon employees, but is now owned and operated by the American corporation Deckers, which also owns the ugg and Teva brands. In recent years, Hoka has signed track athletes as well as trail and road runners, diversifying it s roster as it expanded beyond the ultra-trail scene.

Ultrarunner Ellie Greenwood also signed with the brand. The North Vancouver, B.C., runner won the Western States 100 in 2011 and 2012 and holds the race’s course record. The twotime world 100k champion and Comrades winner formerly ran for Salomon.