CO SKI AREAS FINALLY GET SOME HELP FROM THE SNOW GODS

          Winter "blew into" CO on Monday to the "cheers of ski
     resorts," as a storm "dumped 5 to 9 inches of snow on the
     Denver area," according to Washington & Fong of the ROCKY
     MOUNTAIN NEWS, who report that last night's "MNF" Raiders-
     Broncos game on ABC "provided tremendous exposure for the
     ski resorts."  CO Ski Country USA Communications Manager
     Kristin Rust called the weather conditions during last
     night's game the "best advertising we can get."  Rust: "The
     national audience will know it's snowing in Colorado, and
     it's going to jack up all of our bookings" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
     NEWS, 11/23).  Also in Denver, Steve Lipsher writes that
     snowfall totals yesterday "breathed life" throughout CO ski
     areas.  Vail spokesperson Paul Witt: "If this keeps up,
     particularly with the cold temperatures, we'll be able to
     open more terrain around Thanksgiving" (DENVER POST, 11/23).