Nordic Ski walking is the fastest growing fitness activity in Europe. Over 6 million Europeans are walking, hiking and treking with their special nordic ski walking poles – in the cities, the country and the mountains. No skis and no snow required!
Ski Coaches in Finland saw the success of their world class cross country skiers utilizing ski poles in the summer for Ski Walking and Hill Bounding. They also saw how hikers with knee pain could walk with a hiking stick and eliminate that knee pain. And how back packers complained that their backs hurt until they were given poles. The Finns then developed special walking poles with rubber tips (for hard surfaces, such as pavement), durable metal tips (for trails, the beach snow & ice) and comfortable patented cross country ski straps. They also discovered that the perfect length poles for recreational Nordic Ski Walking were poles that put the Ski Walker’s elbow at 90 degrees when strapped in and standing tall. And now, thanks to WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and The American Nordic Walking System, Americans of all ages and fitness levels have the opportunity to unlock the calorie burning and aerobic benefits of Nordic Ski Walking.
www.SKIWALKING.COM’s owner/founder/coach has hosted hundreds of Nordic Ski Walking Clinics from Lake Tahoe, California to the Green Mountains of Vermont. Clinic participants, regardless of age, are always pleasantly surprised by how good Nordic Ski Walking feels and how effective Nordic Ski Walking is—providing a better aerobic and cardio workout than regular walking and radically reducing the pounding and stress to the knees, hips, and back. Nordic Ski Walking has proven extremely successful for individuals with sore or new knees, sore or new hips, back problems, MS, Parkinson’s, Neuropathy, shin splints, runner’s knee, and other issues.
How? By utilizing the correct length poles, everyone is automatically forced to walk taller, with hips forward and with a straighter back. Better posture is biomechanically a good thing! Combine this improved posture with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive action of walking with fitness poles and there is a noticeable decrease in the stress put on the weight bearing joints. It is not magic. It is just physics. Balance and stability are also hugely improved.
Marketing hype? No, Nordic Ski Walking really does burn up to 40 percent more calories than regular walking. According to the Cooper Institute’s Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports 2002 publication, Nordic Ski Walking produces up to a 46 percent increase in energy consumption compared to regular walking. Unlike regular walking, running, and biking, Nordic Ski Walking really works the arms, shoulders, and abs.
Perfect fitting poles are important. Make sure you are able to specify your height when you order Nordic Ski Walking poles online. Be sure to request a perfect fit guarantee. Most retailers only carry twist-locking poles – one size supposedly fits all – WRONG! Real Nordic Ski Walking Poles are fixed length (one piece shafts). Fixed length (one piece) poles are safer, lighter, more durable, hassle free, and designed for every day use, unlike twist-locking adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles that are heavier, collapse at inconvenient times, and have twist lock systems that wear out. Real Nordic Walking Poles also come with patented comfortable straps. ALL poles from WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and The American Nordic Walking System include straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company.
SKIWALKING.COM’s “VIP’s” (Very Important Poles) are custom-made in Lillehammer, Norway and come with patented comfortable straps, natural rubber tips for the road/hard surfaces, and durable carbide tips for snow, ice, trail and beach. ALL poles come with a FREE Nordic Walking DVD and special instructions are emailed to all customers. The SWIX “VIP’s” are the #1 selling Ski Walking Poles in the USA. The NEW 2008 EXEL Urban Skier Poles are now in stock too!
Over six million Europeans can’t be wrong!
For more information, call toll free: 877-SKIWALKING or 877-754-9255 or send an e-mail to GETFIT(at) www.skiwalking.com
Nordic Ski Walking is but one of several slightly different approaches to fitness walking with poles. Among the variations are minor technique differences and also the fundamental choice between one-piece poles and adjustable poles, each of which has pluses and minuses. The bottom line, however, is that whichever type of pole a person prefers and whichever technique s/he learns, it improves the Nordic Walker’s fitness, health and wellbeing.
I have written a book about Nordic Walking that will be published this spring and I also maintain a blog at http://nordic-walking-usa.blogspot.com.
Last spring, I did a posed news of aseries of four Nordic Walking sessions in Central Park held on four consecutive Monday evenings in spring. An instructor named Annette Lang led groups that met at the North Meadow Recreation Center (mid-park at 97th Street). The four-session cost last year was $75 ($65 for members of the Central Park Conservancy), including use of Exel poles. Anyone interested can call 212-348-4867 for more information on when others might be scheduled.
Keep an idea out for programs offered by other instructors, running stores, fitness centers, etc.
Claire @ http://nordic-walking-usa.blogspot.com
Walking with poles is the best! I am sure that Claire’s new book will help to get more folks out there walking with poles and that is a good thing.
As a ski coach it is a fact that one-piece poles are safer, lighter and more durable for skiing- fact. Twist-locking, adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles are not used for downhill or cross country skiing.
As a Nordic Walking instructor (having personally hosted hundreds of Nordic Walking Clinics during the past three years) the feedback I have received during clinics across the country makes it is crystal clear that one-piece poles custom fit to each Nordic Walker’s height are safer, lighter and more durable that twist-lock poles. I sincerely feel that seniors and folks with balance issues should avoid twist-locking poles. For more info check out our Nordic Walking blog at: http://nordicwalkingusa.blogspot.com
Our family Nordic Walks together almost everyday – spring, summer and fall. During the winter we Nordic Walk when we aren’t cross country skiing. We use poles almost everyday, all year long. We are committed to the sport of Nordic Walking and enjoy sharing the FUN and many health benefits of Nordic Walking with others.
Walking with poles is the best,
Pete – Owner/Founder/Coach The American Nordic Walking System and http://WWW.SKIWALKING.COM
getfit@skiwalking.com