Ultimate Direction Athlete Jon Albon Wins UTMB OCC Race

September 3, 2021

Supported by the hydration accessory brand, Albon sets new course record

September 3, 2021 – Broomfield, CO – Ultimate Direction, inventor of the original hydration pack, congratulates brand athlete Jon Albon for his victory in the UTMB Mont-Blanc world summit of trail running. A multiple world champion in trail, sky running, and obstacle course racing, Albon crossed the OCC finish line in 5:02:57, setting a new course record.

Each year, over 10,000 of the world’s best athletes meet in Chamonix, France to participate in the event, which includes seven races.

The UTMB OCC race spans 55 kilometers from Orsières, located in the Swiss-Valais region, to Chamonix. This rugged terrain across the Franco-Swiss frontier gains over 975 meters of elevation and had a previous course record of five hours and twenty-five minutes.

Supported by Ultimate Direction, Jon Albon not only came out on top—he shattered the course record by more than 20 minutes. “With so little race practice, no pit crew allowed, and what was forecasted to be a five hour plus effort, I thought long and hard about how to carry the fuel and mandatory kit needed,” noted Albon. “In the end I settled on using Ultimate Direction’s Hydro Shorts and Marathon Pack. In the vest I carried the mandatory gear plus two 500ml flexi bottles. At the start one was full of water and the other just had energy drink powder ready to be filled up along the course. This system worked well because it spread the weight I had to carry between my front, back and waist. It also gave me the flexibility of carrying up to a liter of water a time and not having to worry about gel wrappers,” he added.

When asked about his takeaways from the race, Albon shared the following. “If there is something I am proud of, it is how I managed to push through to the end and remain physiologically strong. Over the years I had started to doubt if I still had the grit in me to leave it all out on the course. This race required every bit of grit I had.”

With his appetite for adventure and ambition to push the limits, Ultimate Direction looks forward to supporting Jon Albon in the years to come. For more information on Ultimate Direction, contact Katie Richter at katie@darbycommunications.com. To follow Albon’s athletic career, connect with him on Instagram or visit www.jonathanalbon.com.

Ultimate Direction

Fueling the ambitions of ultra-marathoners, runners, and recreational walkers, Ultimate Direction designs and creates the next generation of hydration solutions to maximize performance wherever your two feet take you. Known for inventing the hydration pack in 1985, Ultimate Direction offers a complete line of innovative hand-helds, water belts, waist packs, backpack hydration, and apparel designed to keep you moving forward with comfort, ease, and superior functionality. www.ultimatedirection.com