Nordic Walking - The American Nordic Walking System

Nordic Walking - The American Nordic Walking System

Real Nordic Ski Walking Poles are custom fit to each individual's height. One piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles. Real Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with Real Nordic Walking Straps - kind of like a fingerless glove. Nordic Walking Poles also come equipped with removable rubber tips that are ideal for use on pavement and other hard surfaces including roads, sidewalks, indoor/outdoor tracks and even in the shopping mall. Poles from The American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM are custom fit to each individual’s height and come with a Perfect Fit guarantee.

The SMART Car Meets Smart Walking (Nordic Ski Walking)

SMART Cars Burn Less Gas And Nordic Walking Poles Burn More Calories!

Four years ago I launched http://www.skiwalking.com/ and The American Nordic Walking System. Fourteen months ago I put a $99 deposit down to reserve a SMART Car. On August 8th, 2008, The SMART Car and Nordic Walking (Smart Walking) met up at the Bloomfield Hills SMART Car Dealership (the only SMART Car dealership in Michigan). The SMART Car staff tried Nordic Ski Walking and I got to test drive my new Smart Car. Both received two thumbs up!

It was definitely worth the 14-month wait for my SMART Car to arrive. I made several stops in my new SMART Car the next morning to introduce Nordic Walking to staff at two of the Beaumont Health Centers in Royal Oak, Michigan. I always have FUN hosting Nordic Walking Clinics, but my SMART Car made getting to my Nordic Walking Clinics twice as FUN. I had to drive with the windows down because at every intersection folks wanted to ask questions and give compliments.

Why Nordic Walking? Because walking with the perfect length poles and correct technique can burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking. The another added bonus from walking with poles is the fact that the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back is radically reduced – making walking comfortable, even for individuals with new knees, new hips, Scoliosis, arthritis, weight issues and even cancer survivors. The poles are also a huge benefit for individuals with balance issues including MS, Parkinson’s, Neuropathy, Post Polio and other challenges. Please note that one-piece poles custom fit to an individual’s height are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Seniors and those with balance issues should NOT use cheap twist-locking poles. Our one-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable and user friendly than cheap twist-lock poles.

Why the SMART Car? Its great mileage, the fact that it is a totally recyclable car, that it provides a smaller carbon footprint and that it is a way to inform both the US oil industry and US auto industry that smaller is better. The US oil and auto industries have spent millions of dollars lobbying against improved MPG standards and should have been investing that money into improving MPG ratings and developing more efficient, cleaner and green energy sources. Over 900,000 Smart Cars have been sold in 36 countries.

On the 5-hour drive north to the home office in Glen Arbor my SMART Car cruised along at 80 miles per hour on I-75 without hesitation or reservation. Gas mileage was only around 40 mpg, but considering this is the "break in" period that isn’t bad.

My favorite car of all time was the VW Thing, but my new favorite car of all time is my new SMART Car - faster, much safer, cleaner (greener) and way more efficient! With the front seat down I can carry 7 full pole bags (77 pairs of Nordic Walking Poles). My 206cm Salomon cross-country skis also fit – even with my son buckled into the passenger seat! There is room for the two of us plus downhill ski gear too! With ESP (electronic stability program with hill start assist) and ABS (Anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution) standard, there won’t be any issues come winter driving. My VW Eurovan has ESP and ESP should be standard on all cars sold in the USA – it is the next best thing to 4-Wheel Drive!

While parked in front of SKIWALKING.COM headquarters today, my SMART car posed for pictures with dozens of tourists walking and cruising down Lake Street in Glen Arbor. The little car is super comfortable, a total blast to drive and NOT just a little car restricted to short little commutes. I’ll be taking this sporty little rascal to all of my Midwest Nordic Walking Clinics. For longer trips I may snag my wife’s Honda Fit (a fantastic 5 seater with tons of storage space and magic seats that fold into the floor).

While my one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are make walking smarter (effective, efficient and FUN), my SMART car is helping to make driving smarter and a whole lot more affordable and FUN!!!!

Get off the coach and launch your Nordic Walking campaign today! Go to http://www.smartusa.com/ and reserve yourself a FUN and efficient driving machine too!

Sizing Nordic Walking Poles For Success – Perfect Length Poles

When I placed my first large order of Nordic Walking Poles, I remember being told by the Norwegians that they recommended Nordic Walking Poles to be much shorter than cross country length poles. Their size chart was not as simple as taking your height and multiplying by .68 or .7 like several manufactures suggest. The goal should be to ensure that when standing tall and strapped into the comfortable patented Nordic Walking straps the elbow would be at 90 degrees and the forearm parallel to the ground. And they were right! When using the correct length poles even men that walk like apes begin to automatically walk with perfect posture without having to think about it.

As it turns out the multiplying your height by .68 or by .7 is only a rough guesstamater – often putting taller individuals and those in-between sizes in poles that are to short.

After hosting hundreds of Nordic Walking classes/clinics during the past four years I have developed a pretty good feel for sizing everyone into the correct length poles. ALL of my customers receive a perfect length guarantee. ALL sizes are in-stock and ready to ship. Once I know how tall someone is I personally select the perfect length poles for their height. Our customer satisfaction rating is 100%!

Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is bio mechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.

The Runners and skiers I coach like their Nordic Walking poles sized the same as the senior citizens and the individuals with balance problems that take my classes. If we go shorter with the poles we find that there is "bending at the waist" and that is NOT a good thing! When testing pole length the REAL question should be "which pair makes your back feel the best". During my classes the customer response 100% of the time is the pair that puts the elbow at 90 degrees when standing still and standing tall. Please note that different pole manufactures measure poles slightly differently – just like the ski companies. I don't know why some companies suggest shorter poles for seniors? I have NEVER had a senior pick poles that were shorter than recommended.

I read today about a retailer suggesting 130cm poles for individuals up to 6’ 5"? Individuals that are 6’ 5" would be best served with 135cm or 140cm poles – depending on the manufacture’s sizing (different manufactures may vary actual pole length by up to 5cm). Regardless, 130cm poles would force someone 6’ 5" to bend forward at the waist and eliminate many of the benefits of walking with the correct length poles.

Last month I custom made some Nordic Walking Poles for an individual that was 6’ 8" because our longest SWIX VIP Nordic Walking Poles and EXEL Urban Skier Nordic Walking Poles are 140cm – way to short for a 6’ 8" Nordic Walker, but ideal for someone 6’ 4" – 6’ 6". I can take a pair of quality cross country ski poles or roller ski poles in longer lengths and add Nordic Walking tips plus straps in order to get a perfect fit for individuals above 6’6" and to tall for our 140cm poles. Twist-locking adjustable length poles are typically extra flimsy above 130cm and can not provide a Perfect Fit for taller Nordic Walkers.

One-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Individuals with balance issues and seniors should avoid twist-locking adjustable poles. I just received an email from a professor at McGill University confirming that our one-piece poles are hassle free when compared to the twist-locking adjustable length poles she purchased by mistake from another source and found they "self-adjusted and partially collapsed" on most of her walks.

When demonstrating Nordic Walking to a dietitian this week she noted that her clients could ALL benefit from "MORE WALKING" too – most of her clients suffer from high blood pressure and/or diabetes. And of course "MORE WALKING" could be the most valuable prevention activity to help get Americans back on the path to improved health and fitness.

Walking with poles is the best!

Pete - owner/founder/coach The American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM Nordic Walking Poles

Nordic Walking Poles from WWW.SKIWALKING.COM Make ABC News

The ABC News article about Nordic Walking is fantastic. And it is great to see our SWIX VIP Nordic Walking Poles in action. These quality Nordic Walking Poles are made in Lillehammer, Norway exclusively for The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM .

Over 6 million Europeans are walking with poles - in the city, in the country and up in the mountains. Walking with poles not only burns more calories than regular walking; the poles reduce stress to the weight bearing joints. Nordic Walking poles also help to improve balance and stability.

The SWIX VIP Nordic Walking Poles were also recently seen in action during a TV segment on New York’s CW11. Our one-piece poles custom fit to each individual's height are safer, lighter and much more durable than twist-locking, adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.

All SKIWALKING.COM customers receive a Perfect Length Guarantee. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.

The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM developed the three basic levels of Nordic Walking so that all ages and all fitness levels could benefit from Nordic Walking.

Level 1: Casually walking, hiking and trekking with the perfect length poles is healthy and good - burning over 20% more calories than regular walking! Remember to keep your chin up, fingers relaxed and poles slightly angled back. Each pole plants inline with the opposing foot's heel - alternating and never planting out in front unless going down a steep hill. When done correctly you will immediately notice your improved posture – automatically walking taller and with a straighter back without having to think about it. Nordic Walking at Level 1 offers huge benefits, is low impact and allows individuals with joint and/or balance issues to participate successfully in this wonderful fitness activity.

Level 2: Requires the arms to fully reach out while keeping the poles slightly angled back. This full arm extension will help to burn over 30% more calories than regular walking! You will find that your walking pace will speed up and your stride will naturally lengthen. Never fake a long stride – allow it to happen naturally. Keep your chin up and fingers relaxed! Shifting from Level 1 to Level 2 is like shifting gears in a car. Level 2 continues to reinforce improved walking posture when done correctly. Again, the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heal unless your are descending a steep hill. Do NOT lean forward!

Level 3: Includes the full arm extension + a firm pole plant (don’t be gentle), constant pressure from the heel of the hand into the strap and a follow-through push when the hand passes by the hips. Level 3 burns over 40% more calories than regular walking. Level 3 requires maximum push and can only be effectively done with real Nordic Ski Walking Poles equipped with real Nordic Walking Straps. And remember the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heal unless your are descending a steep hill. Don't squeeze the poles - keep your fingers relaxed and take advantage of the fingerless glove type straps! Level 3 is big in Europe, but Levels 1 and 2 are more practical for most Americans.

The best Nordic Walking straps are patented by the Salomon Ski Company. These patents have revolutionized cross country skiing and ski racing by providing a secure, but hinged connection to the pole. By eliminating of the need to grip the poles and allowing the power to be transmitted from the hand into the strap maximizes effectiveness, stability and comfort.

Leading pole manufactures like EXEL, ONEWAY and SWIX all utilize these top quality straps on their best poles. Stay clear of cheap twist-locking poles coming out of China that have tried to copy these straps in violation of the patent rights and are manufactured with sub-standard materials and craftsmanship.

During every Nordic Walking Class that I taught last week the participants that already had adjustable length poles complained about the twist-locks on their poles. The twist-locking poles where noisy (rattled and vibrated), wouldn't hold their positions, froze up and/or stopped working altogether. That is why we always recommend durable one-piece poles custom fit to each individual's height for everyday use, for travel and especially for folks with balance issues. The participants that had been using downhill and cross country poles prior to taking one of my classes discovered the benefits of using the correct length poles and the many noticeable benefits of using real Nordic Walking Straps.

It is exciting that Nordic Walking is getting the attention it deserves here in the USA.

Have FUN walking with Poles!

Elvis Spotted Nordic Ski Walking In Vegas!

Elvis was not only spotted during the Las Vegas Marathon with Nordic Ski Walking Poles from SKIWALKING.COM, but also during the awards ceremony. Please note how the ribbons on the Las Vegas Marathon Medals match the cool Norweigen Blue color of the SWIX VIP Nordic Ski Walking Poles!

The prior marathon record for Elvis finishing a marathon was 147, but on Dec. 2nd during the Las Vegas Marathon the world record was shattered when 208 Elvi finished - including two Elvi that opted to Nordic Walk and Nordic Run the marathon route.

Elvis was repeated sighted along the marathon route Nordic Walking and Nordic Running with quality one-piece poles from SKIWALKING.COM and The American Nordic Walking System. These durable one-piece poles are made in Lillehammer, Norway by SWIX - the world's maker of the world's fastest ski wax and best ski racing poles. One-piece Nordic Ski Walking Poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles. Do skiers use twist-locking poles? Visit any ski resort from coast to coast and NONE of their rental departments use twist-locking poles. It is all about weight, durability, safety and fun.

We are working on red poles for Santa Claus.

Over 6 million folks in Europe are walking with poles!

Walking with poles really does burn more calories than regular walking!

The poles, when used in the correct length and with proper technique, really do radically reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back!

Ski Walking is NO longer just for world class athletes, Elvis and professional skiers! Even folks with balance issues are finding one-piece poles custom fit to their heights are a huge improvement over canes and walkers. Even folks with MS, Parkenson's and Neuropathy are finding huge success with quality one-piece poles. Here is a link to an article about Nordic Ski Walking success stories from folks with balance issues: http://nordicwalkingusa.blogspot.com/2007/01/nordic-walking-poles-radically-improve.html

For more info and more pictures please check out http://www.skiwalking.com/ The American Nordic Walking System.

For more info about the Las Vegas Marathon go to: http://www.lvmarathon.com/

Walking with poles is the best!

Nordic Walking Poles Radically Improve Balance & Stability – A Huge Aid For Those With Balance Issues Including MS, Parkinson’s And Neuropathy!

Over six million Europeans are Nordic Walking every day (all ages and all fitness levels). This amazing new fitness activity turbo charges the normal walking regimen. Not only does Nordic Walking burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking, it automatically improves walking posture and helps to reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Utilizing the correct length poles encourages improved walking posture, while the poles and your arms absorb an impressive amount of the shock that would typically hit the shins, knees, hips and back.

Three years ago I launched SKIWALKING.COM and have received hundreds of thank you emails and thank you cards from happy customers - including folks with bad/new knees, bad/new hips, back problems and balance issues. One lady called me during the fall of 2004 and asked if the poles would help improve her balance problems stemming from an inner ear issue. I told her I wasn’t sure, but I did share with her several impressive success stories from folks with knee, hip and/or back problems. By using the correct length poles she was able to navigate even the roughest terrain with balance and security provided by the poles. She has been successfully using my Swix VIP Nordic Walking Poles for over two years now.

While hosting Nordic Walking at The Fitness Center in Traverse City, Michigan I was introduced to Michelle Honer. Michelle had signed up to participate in one of my Ski Walking Classes. When she walked up the handicap ramp prior to the class with her cane it was apparent that she had some balance issues and she informed her classmates that she had MS. Our 1st Ski Walk was only a few blocks down and back. Within several weeks we were covering about 2 miles in one hour.

For seven prior years Michelle had ridden an electric scooter in the Traverse City MS Walk. The last two years Michelle has Ski Walked the 5K (3.1 miles). Local newspapers and TV stations have covered her remarkable story.

"My special Nordic Walking poles have allowed me to walk taller, faster, further and with much more stability than with my cane. Their one-piece design is so much better than my old adjustable poles that broke unexpectedly at an extremely inconvenient time," says Michelle.

Michelle is now an official Ski Walking Ambassador for SKIWALKING.COM and proudly wears her Ski Walking Shirt made of organic cotton while assisting at many of my Nordic Walking Clinics.
Michelle’s success with the walking poles encouraged me to host free Nordic Walking Clinics at MS Support Group meetings.

I receive thank you letters and emails everyday from super happy customers. Here are a couple wonderful examples:

I just returned from a 14-day trip to London and Ireland. I was able to do almost everything using my ski poles or "walking sticks" as they call them in England and Ireland. I could not have considered this trip without my "walking sticks" and I am grateful for them. I hope all Parkinson's patients will be able make use of " walking sticks". Again, thanks for making my once in a lifetime adventure a reality.
Jean
-------
We've been Ski Walking everyday, I was truly amazed at watching Linda, if didn't know that she has MS and the related gate problems that most MS patients have, I would not have believed it! She walks "normal" what ever that is? Your poles are great!Howard
-----------
My husband bought me your poles for my birthday last week. I LOVE them. I have MS and walk with a slight limp and my balance is off sometimes. I am now walking in the park at a brisk walk every day for about 1 1/2 miles. Thank you so much. They make a big difference in my walking. I told him they are the best birthday present he has ever bought me. Thanks again.
Peggy
---------
Nordic Walking may sound like magic, but it is just good physics. The key is using "perfect length" poles. Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.

I recommend quality one-piece poles that won’t collapse unexpectedly. One-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles.

Adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles should NEVER be
recommended to seniors or anyone with a balance issue. Hundreds of backpackers have tumbled when their telescoping poles unexpectedly collapsed.

My SWIX Nordic Walking VIP Poles are made in Lillehammer, Norway exclusively for us at SKIWALKING.COM and they are the #1 selling walking poles in the USA. All customers receive a FREE Nordic Walking DVD and a perfect length guarantee.

According to Nick Mahood, SWIX USA Nordic Walking Director, "Pete Edwards, SKIWALKING.COM's owner/founder, has single handedly introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking through his free clinics! I have no doubt that Edwards is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the USA! You can quote me on that!"

For more information, pictures, info on how to get started and how to buy – please contact http://www.skiwalking.com/ email: getfit@skiwalking.com
toll free 877-SKIWALKING (877-754-9255)