Columbia Sportswear Company Announces Departure of Footwear Manager.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2001

International outdoor apparel and footwear leader Columbia Sportswear Company(R) (Nasdaq:COLM) announced today that Rodney Gumringer, General Manager of the Company's footwear category, has left the Company to pursue other opportunities.

Gumringer joined Columbia as the head of footwear in December 1993.

"Rodney has made strong contributions to the growth of Columbia's footwear business, and we wish him well in his future endeavors," said Bob Masin, Director of Sales and Merchandising. "Our footwear team is comprised of dedicated industry veterans who have helped build a strong outdoor footwear brand for Columbia, and we are enthusiastic about this category's prospects."

Masin pointed out that at March 31, 2001 Columbia's Fall 2001 global footwear backlog, excluding the Sorel brand, was $45.5 million, a 27 percent increase over the Company's March 31, 2000 global footwear backlog of $35.7 million.

The Company will report consolidated global backlog at March 31, 2001 in its fiscal 2001 first quarter earnings announcement, made after the market closes on April 26, 2001.

Founded in 1938 in Portland, Ore., Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturers in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear, please visit the Company's Web site at www.columbia.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including Masin's comments about the prospects for the Company's footwear business and order backlog. These forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risk factors, including those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 28, 2001, under the heading "Factors That May Affect Our Business." These risk factors include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts, economic conditions generally, the financial health of our customers, our dependence on consumer acceptance of our products, and the risk of order cancellation. Forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these and other risk factors.