Columbia Sportswear is Dressing the Slopes in Style for ESPN's Winter X Games VII.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003

The Company Will Provide Apparel From its Convert(R) Line of

Snowboarding Apparel and Accessories

Columbia Sportswear Company(R) (Nasdaq: COLM), the maker of the Convert(R) snowboarding apparel line, is dressing the slopes of Aspen, Colorado in style as the official apparel supplier to ESPN's Winter X Games VII.

The event will take place at the Aspen/Snowmass Resort on January 30-February 2, 2003. ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC Sports will televise the events on January 30 - February 4, 2003.

As the official apparel supplier, Columbia will provide ESPN's on-air talent as well as VIP executives, production and staging personnel with pieces from its high-performance Convert snowboard collection. These pieces include the Cyber Chill Parka(TM), the Sonic Freeze Beanie(TM) and the Transit Chill Pullover(TM).

"We're proud to return as the official apparel supplier for this world-renowned competition, which is an ideal fit with our Company's outdoor philosophy," said Doug Prentice, Columbia Sportswear's Vice President of Outerwear Merchandising. "It's the perfect venue to show off the functionality and durability of Convert(R), Columbia's performance snowboarding line. The Winter X Games VII feature the talents of more than 250 of the world's best athletes competing in snowboarding, snowmobile snocross, moto x, and skiing.

Additionally, Columbia sponsored athletes; Reggie and Zach Crist are defending their back to back Skier X victories at Winter X Games VII. Last year, Reggie raced home to capture the gold in Aspen, Colorado and Zach clinched a downhill victory at the 2001 Winter X Games in Mount Snow, Vermont.

In 1994 Columbia Sportswear introduced its Convert(R) line of apparel for snowboarders. Designed for a wide range of snowboarding talents, the well-known Convert(R) collection offers a variety of technically sophisticated apparel and accessories for adults, teens, children and toddlers.

Columbia Sportswear Company(R) 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 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.