Let There Be Snow - Three People Chosen to Experience Snow for the First Time in Colorado

DENVER, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colorado Tourism Office's (CTO) "Snow at First Sight" campaign, which began on October 12 with a global search for three people who have never experienced snow before, has concluded with the selection of three winners. Hailing from Atlanta, Australia and Hawaii, the three finalists are set to begin their Colorado adventure on January 11, 2010 where they will blog on www.SnowAtFirstSight.com about their experiences and post regular updates on social networks including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

          Ruchu Adhikary, 25, from Melbourne, Australia is an avid
          outdoor sports enthusiast and has tried many extreme sports
          including skydiving, but this is her first chance to try her
          hand at snow sports.  "I love to travel and try new things but
          have never had the opportunity to experience snow before. I
          can't wait for this adventure to begin and to see where it
          takes me."

          Trevor Allison, 21, from Atlanta, GA has dreamed of living in
          Colorado all his life and now he's finally getting his
          opportunity.  "For years I've wanted to come to Colorado to
          experience snowboarding.  I've skate boarded, wake boarded and
          now I finally get the chance to hit the slopes. I'm couldn't
          be more stoked."

          Deena Bright, 30, from the Hawaiian island Kailua, Oahu, is a
          health and exercise nut and has always been interested in
          Colorado and its outdoor sports and healthful lifestyle. "I'm
          so excited to be an ambassador for Colorado and its winter
          season and look forward to participating in the many
          adventures that are headed my way."

During their winter adventure, the finalists will travel across Colorado, enjoying a variety of winter activities and working with local experts to learn how to ski, snowboard, snowmobile, snowshoe and more. The participants will also dine at some of the state's notable restaurants, mingle at the hottest apres-ski spots, experience spas and hot springs and enjoying other vacation pursuits that are popular with Colorado visitors.

"The Snow at First Sight campaign will reveal Colorado's incredible winter season through the eyes of those who have never experienced snow," said Kim McNulty, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. "This is an excellent opportunity to use the popularity of social media to showcase Colorado's destinations and wide variety of winter activities. Through the postings of our winners, ski enthusiasts and travelers of all interests will be inspired to visit Colorado."

To follow the three winners, visit www.SnowAtFirstSight.com; follow them at @SnowAt1stSight on Twitter.com; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/snowatfirstsight; on YouTube at www.youtube.com/visitcolorado; or on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/visitcolorado.

The winners will be visiting destinations including Denver, Breckenridge, Georgetown, Black Hawk/Central City, Winter Park, Keystone, Snowmass, Steamboat, Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper Mountain, Ouray, Grand Junction, Crested Butte, Durango, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Salida, Buena Vista, Estes Park, Fort Collins and Boulder.

ABOUT COLORADO

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 10 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, call 1-800-COLORADO or visit http://www.COLORADO.com. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at http://www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom for story ideas, press releases/press kits, as well as high-resolution, downloadable photos and video for editorial use.

    Contact:  Caitlin Sullivan / 970-372-6571, [email protected]
              Roland Alonzi /212-219-7560, ext. 6765, [email protected]

SOURCE Colorado Tourism Office