CHAPTER 5
Trials, Growth, and Going
Public (1980)
The 1970s were defined by 'The Customs War' and
constant battles with banks. We were always growing too
fast for our balance sheet. We lived on the edge of
bankruptcy for years. But the culture we built—the
'Buttfaces' meetings at Sunriver—kept us together. In
1980, we finally decided to go public. It wasn't about the
money; it was about stability and survival. That year
changed everything. I went from a man chasing a crazy
idea to the leader of a global brand. Looking back, it
wasn't just about the shoes. It was about the spirit of the
runner—the refusal to stop until the finish line, and even
then, looking for the next race.
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