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Sorel: Sorel Sponsors U.S. Snowboarding National Team

^{Published on 2008-12-11 12:28:16 - Market Wire}
 

PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - December 11, 2008) - Sorel, a premium cold-weather boot manufacturer and one of Columbia Sportswear Company's (NASDAQ: [ COLM ]) portfolio of leading outdoor brands, today announced its official sponsorship of U.S. Snowboarding, the national team representing America's best snowboarders, as they pursue the Olympic dream for the United States in the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

As the official boot sponsor for the snowboarding team, Sorel will be participating in three key snowboarding events, including the first two stops of the 2009 U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, CO, December 12-13 and Boreal, CA, January 31-February 1. The Grand Prix represents the longest-running competitive snowboarding tour in America and brings together the best halfpipe snowboarders in the world, including Olympic medalists Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT), Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO); X Games medalists Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO) and Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), and overall 2008 Grand Prix champion, Louie Vito (Sandy, UT).

In addition, Sorel will be represented at the Visa U.S. Snowboarding Cup, part of the FIS Snowboarding World Cup tour, when it stops at Sunday River, ME, February 26-28. Fans can expect Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) and four-time X Games champ Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) in the snowboardcross competition and Olympians Tyler Jewell (Steamboat, CO) and Michelle Gorgone (Boston, MA) in the parallel giant slalom heats.

All three competitions will air on NBC and Versus as well as have live webcasting on [ www.GO211.com ].

"The Sorel name has been synonymous with durable, cold-weather footwear for more than 40 years and Sorel boots were among the first boots ever used for snowboarding," said Katherine Lane, Sorel's marketing manager. "Our sponsorship of U.S. Snowboarding, the Grand Prix and the World Cup competitions is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase Sorel footwear in the rugged, cold-weather environment for which it is so well suited. We're proud to return to Sorel's roots to introduce a new generation of snowboarders and winter sports enthusiasts to our exciting new products, as well as the brand's classic styles."

Sorel will outfit athletes, event staff, volunteers, on-air talent and VIPs with Sorel footwear, including the original Caribou boot, which was introduced in 1972 and has become one of the leading winter boots of all time.

"USSA is excited to be partnering with Sorel around U.S. Snowboarding and several of our competitions," said Ted Morris, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association vice president, sales and marketing. "Our athletes, staff and special guests will have warm, dry feet no matter what the weather is like at our events in the mountains where winter can bring varying elements. It's a privilege to be working with a brand like Sorel."

For additional information on U.S. Snowboarding and the 2009 competition schedule, please visit [ www.ussnowboarding.com ].

About Sorel:

For more than 40 years, Sorel boots have been engineered to provide outstanding warmth, comfort and durability in the most extreme cold-weather conditions. They have accompanied explorers to the North Pole and earned a legendary reputation among winter outdoor enthusiasts as well as those who work outdoors in harsh winter conditions. While the brand's Caribou style remains a winter classic, Sorel now offers an exciting range of comfortable, luxurious, all-weather products that merge high-quality materials with outstanding design to produce durable, fashionable warmth. Sorel boots can be found in specialty outdoor stores, as well as upscale department and footwear stores around the world, reflecting growing appeal among discerning consumers who trek the most demanding urban jungles year-round. Sorel is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company, based in Portland, Oregon. For more information about Sorel, please visit [ www.sorel.com ].

About USSA:

The USSA is recognized as the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, and the parent organization for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association provides opportunities for athletes in the most exciting Olympic action sports. The USSA's programs provide education, development and competition opportunities for young athletes, with from grassroots USSA club programs up through national teams and the Olympic Winter Games. For more information about the athletes and competitions visit [ www.usskiteam.com ] and [ www.ussnowboarding.com ].