This is a press release courtesy of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Cross-country skiing pioneer Klindt Vielbig of Portland is the recipient of the 2008 Doug Newman Memorial Award honoring individuals or groups for significant contributions to non-motorized trail development in Oregon

The tribute from the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council recognizes Vielbig's contributions to the planning, development and maintenance of cross-country ski trails in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The award is named in memory of an outdoors writer and recreation trails advocate from Eugene.

Lauded for his continuing work on existing ski trails and support for new ones, Vielbig is generally recognized as the first person to promote cross-country skiing in Oregon. He founded the Nordic Ski School, the first cross-country ski school in the Northwest, and the Cloud Cap Chalet retail store, the first store in Oregon to sell cross-country ski gear and guide services for Nordic skiers on Mt. Hood. He also is a charter member of the Oregon Nordic Club, the oldest and largest cross-country ski club in Oregon, and is the author of the first guidebook on the sport in Oregon, "Cross-Country Ski Routes Oregon."

Vielbig is the 11th Oregonian to receive the Newman award. Others honored have been Betty Anderson of Klamath Falls; Mark Flint of Molalla; Curtis Hardie of Bend; Mel Huie of Portland; Al LePage of Portland; Jack Remington of Bend; Walt Schroeder of Gold Beach; Art and Maureen Sevigny of Klamath Falls; Lolly Skillman of Medford; Barbara Walker of Portland, and  Terry Wheeler of Molalla.