Columbia Sportswear to Present at the Merrill Lynch 30th Annual Retailing Leaders Conference

PORTLAND, Ore., March 15, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Sportswear Company (Nasdaq:COLM), a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear, will present at the Merrill Lynch 30th Annual Retailing Leaders Conference. Bryan Timm, VP, CFO & Treasurer will provide information on the Company's long-term growth strategies, followed by a question and answer session.

        When:           March 22, 2007, 9:20 am ET

        Where:          The New York Palace Hotel, New York, NY

        Presenter:      Bryan Timm - Vice President, CFO & Treasurer

        Web cast:       Columbia's audio portion of the conference
                        will be webcast and can be accessed through
                        the Columbia Sportswear website:

                        www.columbia.com

                        The webcast will be archived for two weeks
                        following the conference.

Columbia Sportswear Company was founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon and 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 a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and value. The Company manages a portfolio of outdoor brands including Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel, Montrail and Pacific Trail.

CONTACT:  Columbia Sportswear Company
          David Kiser, Director of Investor Relations
          503-985-4584

Released March 15, 2007