Columbia Sportswear Company Announces Management Changes.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq:COLM), a global leader in the active outdoor apparel and footwear industries, today announced changes in its management staff. Effective immediately, Ed Howell has resigned as Global President Sorel to return to the east coast to be closer to his family. Sean Beers, Director of Operations, and Mike Prendergast, National Sales Manager, will continue to manage the Sorel team while a search is conducted for a successor.

"Ed has been an outstanding member of Columbia's executive team for the past two years, and we thank him for his contributions to Sorel and Columbia Sportswear. His leadership has made a lasting impact on Sorel. We are pleased with the strength of Sorel's existing management team, designers and merchants, and the overall strategic direction of the Sorel division," commented Tim Boyle, President and CEO.

"I have enjoyed working with and developing the Sorel team, and am confident that I am leaving the organization in very capable hands," said Ed Howell. "I look forward to the continued success of the Sorel division."

The company also announced that Bill Berta has been named National Sales Manager - Footwear to direct U.S. sales efforts for Columbia branded footwear. The Company has launched a search for a VP - Footwear to manage global footwear design and merchandising.

Berta is a veteran footwear sales manager with nearly 20 years of sales and merchandising experience. He has served as the General Manager of Columbia's footwear division since 2001, and will continue to manage the division on an interim basis. In his new role, Berta will assume the responsibilities of an existing vacated position.

"Bill has done an impressive job of directing a talented team of footwear designers and merchants who have built a firm foundation for Columbia branded footwear sales. We will now leverage Bill's strong sales management expertise to direct our domestic footwear sales efforts," commented Bob Masin, Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising. "The opportunities for our footwear products are significant and we have identified the footwear product category as a key growth driver for Columbia."

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 brands in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United State, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance and value. Sorel, a division of Columbia Sportswear Company, specializes in utilitarian footwear and apparel for outdoor industrial and recreational use. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear and Sorel, please visit their websites at www.columbia.com or www.sorel.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including the statements by Messr.s Boyle, Howell, and Masin regarding growth in future periods. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these and other forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Columbia Sportswear Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004, under the heading "Factors That May Affect Our Business and the Price of Our Common Stock," and other risks and uncertainties that have been or may be described from time to time in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 10-K. Although forward-looking statements help provide complete information about the Company, investors should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are inherently less reliable than historical information. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release, to conform them to actual results or to changes in Company expectations.