Skiing, snowboarding likely to be named state's official winter activities

DENVER - A fourth-grader and a 69-year-old lawmaker are about to bring some much needed recognition to Colorado's long-overlooked skiing and snowboarding industry.

The House passed a resolution Monday to make skiing and snowboarding Colorado's official winter recreational activities. If the Senate passes the measure today, the sports will join square dancing as the only activities honored by the state.

The idea came from William Kane, a 10-year-old expert downhill skiier from Lakewood, and Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, slalomed it through the House.

Some lawmakers hope the resolution will draw attention to Colorado's mountain resorts, which until now have had to rely solely on glossy travel magazines, word of mouth, airlines and television to make skiing a multibillion-dollar industry.

Fans of other winter sports could only rue the House's decision to sweep them aside.

"That's too bad. I think if they selected it, it would have helped," Broadmoor Curling Club president Frank Fraser said. The longtime Canadian pastime has grown in popularity, with curling teams sprouting around the state, he said.

Snowshoe racing and ice fishing also lost out.

Not all lawmakers were on board. Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, asked that it be sent to a committee for debate. Off the record, other Republicans expressed their discomfort, saying naming Colorado's winter sport was too important to be rammed through the legislative process by 10-year-olds, even if they are expert skiers.

The Western painted turtle will steal the ski industry's thunder today, when Gov. Bill Ritter signs the bill that makes it the official state reptile.

The Senate likely will be giving its approval to the snowboarding measure - a mere resolution without the force of law - at the same time.