We love watching those late-in-the-year national broadcasts of Broncos and CU Buffs home games. We cheer the touchdowns, but we're also waiting for the inevitable ads for Colorado winter vacations.

You know, instead of showing the dry and sunny (read: boring) Front Range, producers choose a go-to-commercial shot of a boarder swooping through powder under a Matisse-blue sky 100 miles or more from any stadium.

That sells a lot of ski passes and helpfully perpetuates the "Denver must be SO cold and snowy" myth. We don't want everyone to know that we play golf down here in the morning and ski up there in the afternoon.

Whether you are a longtime resident or a newcomer, welcome to the Rocky's Winter Escapes 2008 special section. It's your insider's guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

* For boarders and skiers, we've compiled a fresh detailed look at the state's multitude of world-class slopes, including lifts and terrain.

* Our resident fitness pro, Lisa Ryckman, tells you how to get in shape for the slopes and avoid injury. We also offer details on learning to board, which entails a different skill set than skiing.

* Although there are no actual fashion police standing guard near the moguls (except, probably, in Aspen), there may be some officers hanging out at apres ski gathering spots. The Style Matters duo spill the skinny on clothes that do double duty on the slope and in the lounge.

* We also cover the brave, new world of high-tech ski wear and gear guaranteed to make you board or ski faster.

* Rocky dining critic Lori Midson divulges her roster of great resort-town eateries.

* Need more? How about info on ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating and dog sledding?

* We also supply you with details on ski pass deals and the best winter festivals.

Additional ongoing information about weather and slope conditions will be available on the Winter Escapes Web pages at RockyMountainNews.com.

Whatever you do, get out there. Coloradans don't hibernate. We motivate. We ambulate. We celebrate. It's de rigeur when you have a winter wonderland right in your backyard.