ASICS opens applications for funded EMEA trail contest

ASICS is accepting applications from trail runners across four European markets for a fully funded outdoor adventure, relaunching an initiative it first ran in 2025.

Two participants selected from France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany will receive travel costs, accommodation, logistics, and a full kit from the brand’s spring/summer 2026 FUJITRAIL outdoor running line. ASICS will also document and distribute the winners’ journeys to promote broader trail running participation.

Applications opened March 12 and close March 19, 2026, and are restricted to members of the OneASICS loyalty program. The competition is open to runners at all experience levels, with no ability requirement. Participants must be at least 18. Adventures are expected to take place by early July 2026. Group submissions are permitted, though entrants are asked to apply once.

What the contest is designed to do for the brand

Trail running has been one of the strongest growth segments in performance running for several years, drawing both road runners migrating to off-road formats and new participants attracted by outdoor lifestyle positioning. For ASICS, which competes with Salomon, Hoka (owned by Deckers), and On in the trail category, community-driven activation of this type serves dual commercial ends: it generates authentic user content and builds loyalty among a consumer segment that tends toward high engagement and repeat purchase.

The FUJITRAIL collection — ASICS’s dedicated trail running line — sits at the premium end of the brand’s performance range and is a key vehicle for the company’s effort to grow trail running alongside its established road running core.

Anthony Marguet, director of Performance Running at ASICS EMEA, said the 2025 edition attracted “thousands of inspiring applications and heartwarming stories,” citing the trail community’s ambition and connection as motivation for continuing the program.