On the evening of March 12, 2026, the trail running community was rocked by major news: domestic top trail runner Xiang Fuzhao announced on her personal social media, "Goodbye HOKA. Properly say goodbye to the past, and properly greet the future." This means Xiang Fuzhao will end her six-year partnership with HOKA. In 2020 HOKA teamed up with Xiang — a signing that proved a perfect win-win. Over those six years Xiang rose from a national elite to the world stage. 2020 Transgrancanaria — runner-up 2020, 2024 Ninghai Trail Challenge — champion 2022 UTMB — 7th (women's) 2024, 2025 West 100 — women's runner-up (two years running) 2023 UTMB — 4th (women's) With this string of achievements Xiang Fuzhao has risen to the world’s top ranks; on the hundred-mile distance she is the most dominant athlete in the country. In 2025 she won the World Trail Grand Slam Series with a perfect score of 3000 points, becoming the first female overall champion of the short-distance category in the World Trail Grand Slam Series, and demonstrating exceptional competitiveness in the short-distance division. With Xiang's 'breakup' with HOKA, the domestic trail running transfer market has grown even more turbulent. Xiang's enormous influence in trail running makes her a hot commodity — who will be her next team? And how will HOKA choose to fill the gap left by her departure?