Summer '08

Billabong buys Dakine for 100 million+!

WOW! Big news in the industry. Ben woke up on Thursday morning with his office phone ringing and his inbox full of emails with people talking about Billabong purchasing Dakine. Here is the press release from Austrailia:

GOLD COAST, 22 August 2008: Billabong International Limited today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of DaKine Hawaii, Inc., a leader in the premium accessories category within the surf, skate, snow and windsurf markets.
DaKine was founded in 1979 in Hawaii by Rob Kaplan and is currently based in Hood River, Oregon, one of the premier action sports venues in North America. The brand has developed a strong reputation as the global action sports industry’s leading provider of specialized backpacks and technical accessories with an excellent historical growth profile.
Billabong International Limited chief executive officer Derek O’Neill said the inclusion of a complementary, authentic and internationally proven boardsports brand added further depth to the Group.
“DaKine is well established within the boardsports sector and it is a brand that has built its reputation on the quality and reliability of its technical range,” said Mr. O’Neill.
“It has built a strong sales base in North America and a growing sales base in several international territories, making it a powerful addition to the Group.”
Billabong North America President Paul Naude’ said DaKine had particular strength in the ocean boardsports sector and had a 20-year history in the snow category with a strong offering in backpacks, bags, gloves and accessories.
“DaKine is a brand that leads the boardsports backpack category, excels in the surf accessories market in the ultimate testing ground of Hawaii and has excellent penetration in winter product categories including snow gloves,” said Mr. Naude’.
“It is a brand that is focused on function over fashion and this, together with a strong team of athletes and compelling marketing campaigns, has endeared it to active boardsports participants.”
DaKine founder Rob Kaplan said the sale presented synergies for both businesses and he welcomed the additional infrastructure Billabong offered to support future growth.
“Billabong and DaKine have both determined that each of us has complementary skills and strengths and together we have a compelling authentic offer,” said Mr. Kaplan.
Rob Kaplan will remain integrally involved as a key member of the DaKine management team and will be based in the brand’s regional office in Maui, Hawaii. All employees, along with the current management team, are being retained and will remain in the brand’s head office in Oregon.
DaKine is expected to contribute approximately 4% of Billabong International Limited’s Group sales in the 2008-09 financial year and is expected to be earnings per share positive in year one.


http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/1739.html

http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/23/business/story02.html

I thought today was the day... common occurance these days!

Somewhere I got a nasty cold. I honestly don't remember the last time I had a "for real" cold but that's what it is. I have been feeling like garbage the last couple days and went to bed last night feeling that way. I couldn't get to sleep very easy but finally passed out. I woke up out of bed at around 2:30 a.m. for the first time having contractions that actually hurt! It was kind of surreal at first. Since I started having contractions around the 20th week of my pregnancy those contractions/braxton hicks have been a constant pregnancy symptom but not much more. They have never really hurt. Even when I was in the hospital for a week and they were pumping me full of drugs to stop labor because I was contracting every 3-5 min., they still didn't hurt. Soooo needless to say when I actually felt something strong enough to wake my stuffy, cold ridden body up, I thought this was it. I was going into labor at 2:30 in the morning and Ben was going to be bummed that he wasn't going be able to go on his bike ride that was planned for that morning because he was going to have to get me to the hospital.... Well, I wanted to time them for a while to see if it was for real. They were only coming every 10 minutes. That is all the closer they have really ever been since coming home on bed rest. I stayed up until 4:00 but nothing much changed and I eventually went back to sleep for a couple hours. I had an appointment at the hospital for an ultrasound to check the babys blood flow through the cord and for a non-stress test. I thought for sure they would admit me at my appointment. But, no dice. They said baby looked great & I was only contracting about every 8-10 minutes so not nearly enough to admit me yet...

The anticipation is getting crazy hard! I am home and not having many contractions at this point. It looks like I'm going to have a Virgo baby after all. I think the cut off is tomorrow the 23rd. Unless something crazy happens tonight, you never know...

DONAVON jammin in Sugarhouse park..... for real

So as you know I have been on bed rest and loving every minute of it :) . It was a regular morning and I was in my office at home trying to work when I got a text message from the radio station 101.9 (not sure how they are able to text me but anywho...) I did a triple take at the text, it said Donavon Frankenreiter was going to be playing a free lunchtime show in Sugarhouse park today at noon. WHAT?? So random. So I went online to verify and sure enough he was going to be there at noon. I love Donavon, he is one of my all time favorites sooo I had to talk Ben into letting me leave the house to check this out. Ben thought it could be pretty cool too so I got a pass to leave & check it out. I rallied down to SLC and seriously couldn't believe the set up. Donavon was in a pavilion at the park sitting on a table with his guitar and an amp playing all his best stuff and a bunch of his new stuff too. SO COOL! Ben met me there 15 min later & we got to enjoy the show together. SWEET. His new album is so good. Check it out at his site www.donavonf.com.

Couples Baby Shower

Thanks Beau & Court for throwing us an amazing shower! Thanks to Sara and Schaffor & Andrea for helping out as well. So much fun!

37 Weeks! What??

So after trying to have this baby at 30 weeks and being in the hospital for a week and on bed rest for 6 weeks we have made it to the all important 37 WEEKS! That's right this baby is now considered full term. I don't really think anyone expected us to go this far but this little one is still pretty small so a little extra time to cook won't be a bad thing. I have to say though, the anticipation is getting really HARD. My bag has been packed for almost 2 months now, I have forgotten what I even have in there. Ben and I are also both going crazy not knowing if we are having a boy or a girl. Its going to be so amazing to finally find out!

I know our friends and family are getting anxious too. I promise we will call ALL of you as soon as we are headed to the hospital!

staying connected...

Ben and I have been meaning to launch a blog for months. For some reason we both have a hard time keeping up to date with everyone, it was even a new years resolution for me this year. I really want to be better about staying connected and up to date with all the important people in my/our lives. I'm not sure why we both have a hard time returning calls or reaching out, its not because we don't care or that we aren't thinking about those people constantly.... All I can come up with is a bunch of BAD excuses.. Hopefully this blog will help us stay in better contact and let you all know the fun and exciting things happening in our life as well.