Olympic Ski Star Lindsey Vonn Promotes Nordic Walking

The 1st Americans to embrace Nordic Ski Walking have typically been skiers. When deprived of snow skiers often grab their poles for hikes, ski walking and hill bounding.

When celebrity athletes endorse a virtually unknown and misunderstood fitness activity like Nordic Walking only good things can result. Awareness and curiosity are good things. And an enthusiastic celebrity endorsement is fantastic. When more Americans realize the many wonderful health benefits of Nordic Walking this fitness activity will take off here like it already has in Europe. Nordic Walking Poles often empower individuals to start walking taller, faster, longer and remain much more happy.

Typically skiers know that one-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece poles from China. These collapsible poles tend to rattle, vibrate and often collapse unexpectedly. While one-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than collapsible poles equipped with twist-locks or flip-locks.

At WWW.SKIWALKING.COM we carry 16 different lengths of SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking Poles. We also carry rubber replacement tips/asphalt paws for both SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles.

Roller Skiing and Nordic Walking

I'm totally hooked on the Swenor Finstep Cap Classic Roller Skis. These super smooth roller skis even come with a slight Nordic camber. These roller skis are light years ahead of classis roller skis made of aluminum.

The Salomon  S-LAB SKIATHLON is my favorite roller ski and cross country ski boots. WOW. Best boots ever. Even with my weird feet they all skied great right out of the box.

My favorite Nordic Walking Poles are the original SWIX VIP's from Lillehammer, Norway and made exclusively for us here at WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System. All of our SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with durable metal tips and removable rubber tips/paws that act as shock absorbers and silencers on pavement.

And when it comes to roller skiing my favorite poles are my SWIX CT1's - equipped with special SWIX "road" ferrules (metal tips) that hold a sharp point even when pounding down the pavement.

The similarities between roller skiing and Nordic Walking are many. The most important however is the simple fact that durable one-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be lighter, stronger and much more dependable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles that tend to rattle, vibrate, gradually collapse or collapse unexpectedly. Skiers also use dependable one-piece poles while ski walking and hill bounding with poles - they would never considering heavy collapsible poles.

Skiers ski with one-piece poles because collapsible poles don't hold up and are a hassle. The same goes for hiking, trekking and Nordic Walking - one-piece poles will always prove to be superior to cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.

North America Nordic Opener – coming to Traverse City, Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 22nd

The 1^st cross country ski race of the season in North America - A Michigan Cup Nordic Ski Race!

You don’t have to go to Australia to ski this time of year. The Vasa Ski Club and Brick Wheels invite you to welcome the upcoming ski season in style by skiing on Zamboni snow! That’s right – a ski trail will be created with snow from local ice rinks for first tracks in October! Also take advantage of hot deals on Nordic ski equipment at our inaugural cross country and telemark Ski Swap.

The local Vasa Ski Club (VSC) is partnering with Brick Wheels to host the Second Annual Nordic Fest on Saturday, October 22, 9 am–4 pm. The Fest includes on snow skiing, party with food, beverages and entertainment and a cross country Ski Swap including new and gently used equipment - skis, poles, bindings and boots. Brick Wheels will have new gear discounted too!

This Nordic Fest will take place at Brick Wheels. The event will be great fun, with something for everyone including the first ski race in North America for the 2011/2012 season. Racers will ski on an oval ski track constructed by the VSC.

Skiers from across the state will have a chance to participate in the first Michigan Cup Race of the season from 10am - Noon. $5 race fee will support VSC programs including the Junior Program and We Ski Program. The public is invited to ski for free on the snowy track from 12–7 pm. Enjoy the Vasa Ski Club Season Kick-off Party with food, beverages and music from 4–7 pm.

The weekend concludes on October 23 with a roller ski clinic led by the former Nordic coach of the University of Utah, Eli Brown at 11 am at Brick Wheels.

More details can be found below and at www.vasaskiclub.com  and www.brickwheels.com , plus on the NordicSkiRacer web site: http://www.nordicskiracer.com

For SWIX Race Wax Recommendations: WWW.SWIXRACING.US

* photo credit: Pete Edwards, WWW.SKIWALKING.COM LLC and the American Nordic Walking System

WWW.SKIWALKING.COM LLC Relocates To Empire, Michigan

The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM are North America's leading Nordic Walking Company. World Headquarters has moved from Glen Arbor, Michigan to Empire, Michigan.

As the exclusive North American retailer for SWIX out of Norway and EXEL out of Finland, SKIWALKING.COM ships quality Nordic Walking Poles world-wide. No other USA or Canadian retailer offers 16 different lengths of quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles. SKIWALKING.COM is also the exclusive North American source for SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking rubber tips/asphalt paws.

The American Nordic Walking System is the instructional branch of the company. Pete Edwards, the owner/founder, has hosted hundreds of Nordic Walking Classes and introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking. His hands on experience, combined with over 25 years of coaching runners and skiers, has enabled him to clearly define a safe and effective Nordic Walking System that accommodates all ages and all fitness levels. The American Nordic Walking System is based on the best biomchanics of running and cross country skiing.

Unlike other Nordic Walking organizations the American Nordic Walking System does not recommend the use of cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles that tend to rattle, vibrate, gradually collapse and/or fail altogether. As a ski coach Edwards knows that collapsible poles are not durable enough to handle the tough use of skiers. One-piece poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy collapsible poles. Edwards' SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles are tough enough to withstand the demands of skiing, but are ideal for hiking, trekking, ski walking and hill bounding - cheap twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles are not tough enough. Collapsible poles are just to cheap and flimsy for skiing and roller skiing. Seniors and individuals with balance should only use quality one-piece poles and avoid cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles.

The new home of the American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM is located in the hills above the town of Empire. Empire is home to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore headquarters. All of Edwards' poles have gone through rigerous testing on the beaches and up on the sand dunes themselves.