POWERBALL: UNMASKING THE COLORADO CURSE

The thought has crossed our quick-as-lightning minds at Extra! that we haven't seen many Powerball winners from Colorado. Good guess.

Because, since the state joined Powerball on Aug. 2, 2001, there has NEVER been a winning ticket sold in our fair state. That's 584 drawings, and with 29 states, plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands participating in Powerball, we figure "our share" of winners should have amounted to at least a chubby handful. Not ZERO!

It turns out, says Kristen Shew of the Colorado Lottery office, that Colorado is on a short list of eligible states and territories that have never won: Maine, North Dakota, Vermont and the Virgin Islands.

Here's a tip: If you want to increase your chances of winning Powerball, move to . . . Indiana. Seems the Hoosier State has produced 33 winners. The hogs.

But maybe we're looking at this all wrong. As Shew reminded Extra!: "We're due."

HEY, KID, WANNA BE A HERO?

The Vail Ski Patrol is looking for a few good skiers with hearts of gold and the courage of Tiger Woods (before he started missing all those putts).

Vail Mountain's annual Ski Patrol tryouts are set for March 25, 28 and 30. Only strong alpine and telemark skiers are invited to participate in the test, which evaluates the ability to ski all terrain in all conditions.

If you're interested, sign up in advance, either at Vail Ski Patrol headquarters at the top of chairlifts 4, 5 and 11, or by calling 970-479-4610.

Those selected will attend the Vail Ski Patrol Academy on the weekends of March 31-April 1 and April 7-8.