WORLD RECORD BASE JUMP IN DUBAI
Talk about riding high. Two French skydivers set the world record for highest base jump last Monday in Dubai. Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet dove off of the Burj Khalifa building, which stands at 2,700 feet.
Both men practiced jumping off the nearby Lauterbeunnen Mountain for several days, which is close to the same height at the Burj Khalifa. They also dove from several helicopters in preparation.
While several have already jumped from the Burj, this is the highest yet. Check out the dizzying video here.
UPPER YOUGH SEASON BEGINS MAY 3RD
Maryland’s busy Upper Youghiogheny River opens for paddlers on May 3rd. The takeout town of Friendsville, Maryland doubles its population on release weekends, so the town is requesting paddlers do all they can to minimize their impact, including parking respectfully on Maple Avenue to avoid blocking traffic. American Whitewater will maintain the put-in facility in Sang Run for the 11th consecutive year. They are encouraging paddlers to make donations towards upkeep expenses: a suggested $2 per visit or $20 for the season.
Columbia Acquires Prana
Global outdoor apparel, footwear and accessories company Columbia Sportswear announced it signed an agreement to acquire Prana — the active lifestyle brand that started in 1992 making yoga and rock climbing inspired apparel. Majority owner Steelpoint Capital Partners and all other minority stakeholders will sell to Columbia for $190 million in cash or roughly 13 times Prana’s projected 2014 EBITDA, according to sources.
Columbia is a public company (NASDAQ: COLM) and Prana joins its portfolio of outdoor brands distributed globally: Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel and Montrail. Prana will remain headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., and Scott Kerslake will remain CEO of Prana, reporting to Columbia President and CEO Tim Boyle.
