The Best Poles For All Nordic and Alpine Sports - Including Nordic Walking

Roller Skiing, Nordic Blading (roller blading), Nordic Snowshoeing, Down Hill Skiing (Alpine), Classic Technique Cross Country Skiing, Skate Technique Cross Country Skiing and Nordic Walking all have one important commonality. One-piece poles for success.

I've been coaching skiers for over 30 years and have always proposed one-piece poles that are sized correctly. I would never consider using 2-piece or 3-piece adjustable length/collapsible/telescoping poles for beginner skiers or for my racers. Cheap/flimsy collapsible poles just couldn't take the tough treatment. The same goes for all Nordic and Alpine Sports. One-piece poles that are sized correctly will always prove to be safer, lighter, stronger, much more durable and much more user-friendly than collapsible poles equipped with twist-locks or flip-locks that are destined to fail and end up in the dumpster.

We are doing a lot of roller skiing this fall and our one-piece poles are totally dependable. Collapsible poles couldn't take the punishment. So, when it comes to walking poles why would anyone trust cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles? I would never sell seniors or individuals collapsible poles. Collapsible poles are easy to sell, but their satisfaction ratings are horrible. Their life-span is short too. Many of my new customers report that prior to calling us for quality poles they first attempted to buy at big box stores and the floor models twist-locks were already broken - including the $140 Leki Poles at numerous locations. Hundreds of other customers report the same poor results from a variety of collapsible poles they purchased by mistake thinking they were quality poles. Our 100% positive satisfaction ratings wouldn't be doable if we promoted collapsible poles and the headaches that come with them.

Once we know tall a customer is we select the Perfect Length Poles for their height. The correct length poles radically improve balance and stability. They also help to radically reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back.

 Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits are helping many individuals to walk comfortably again. Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance issues, knee issues or new knees, hip issues or new hips, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson's (PD), neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely and effectively launch much needed walking campaigns.

The best poles for all Nordic and Alpine Sports are one-piece poles - don't get scammed by all the marketing hype behind 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles. No matter how much lipstick you put on a pig it is still a pig.

When it comes to one-piece poles the sizing is critical. We offer 16 different lengths of SWIX Poles from Norway and EXEL Poles from Finland. Plus custom fit when necessary. We offer a Perfect Length Guarantee. Retailers with just 6 or 7 different pole lengths can't possibly get the sizing right even 50% of the time. And sizing is critical. It is also important to remember that collapsible poles especially don't work for tall guys. Collapsible poles are even extra flimsy when fully extended and when extended to their limit they are far to short for taller men - to short and even more flimsy.

At WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we take sizing and quality very seriously. That is why we are running 100% positive with all the ratings services. Plus all of our quality one-piece poles are equipped with real Nordic Walking Straps, metal tips for off-road and removable rubber tips/asphalt paws for pavement and hard surfaces.

Have FUN and remember to get in as much Nordic Sports action as possible!

Nordic Walking Classes Return to NMC (Northwestern Michigan College)

On Wednesday, May 12, 2010, Nordic Walking Classes will return to Northwestern Michigan College’s Lifelong Learning Campus Day – a popular enrichment event designed especially for adults age 50 and over. Participants will select three sessions from over 30 unique options about the ever-changing world we live in—from our own challenges to local and regional issues, technology to area attractions and businesses, computer skills, wellness (including Nordic Ski Walking), travel, the arts, renewable energy, and more. Well-known community leaders and experts along with NMC faculty present insightful sessions.

The Nordic Ski Walking Class is scheduled during the 2nd session from: 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The Nordic Walking Class will include an introduction to the history of Nordic Walking, a review of the many benefits of Nordic Walking, an opportunity to test drive real Nordic Walking Poles and instruction based on the American Nordic Walking System.

Presenter Pete Edwards has introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking. After hosting hundreds of Nordic Walking Clinics he developed the American Nordic Walking System - providing safe and effective instruction. The American Nordic Walking System was specifically designed to provide a variety of intensity and exertion levels. There is an ideal level of intensity and exertion for any ages and any fitness level. He also hosts free Nordic Walking Classes for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's (PD), Diabetes and Cardiac Rehabilitation Support Groups, plus Wounded Warrior Programs. He also has donated hundreds of his special Nordic Walking Poles to Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, Fort Carson, Fort Lewis/Madigan/McChord and Vicenza, Italy

Lifelong Learning Campus Day participants enrolled in the Nordic Walking Classes will have the opportunity to test drive real SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles – sized specifically to each individual’s height. Edwards’ offers 14 different lengths of poles – more than any other company in North America. Edwards is committed to the simple fact that quality one-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock or flip-lock collapsible poles.

Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers for over 25 years and knows for a fact that skiers use durable and dependable one-piece poles. Skiers do not use cheap/flimsy collapsible poles. Seniors and individuals with balance issues should especially avoid cheap/flimsy 2-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles that can collapse unexpectedly, vibrate excessively, rattle and/or fail all together. Serious athletes and hikers can also depend on one-piece Nordic Walking Poles to out perform adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.

For more information and to register for NMC’s Lifelong Learning Campus Day please contact the NMC Life Academy: 231-995-1700. Website: www.nmc.edu/ees/lifeacademy

The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM are headquartered in Glen Arbor, Michigan and ships Swix and Exel Nordic Walking Poles worldwide every day.

Contact Information: Pete Edwards - Owner/Founder/Coach - American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM

Toll Free: 877-SKIWALKING or 877-754-9255

Swix Nordic Walking: http://www.swixnordicwalking.us/

Exel Nordic Walking: http://www.exelnordicwalking.com/

Nordic Walking Blog: http://nordicwalkingusa.blogspot.com/

Nordic Walking Blog USA: http://nordicwalkingusa.wordpress.com/

Nordic Walking Blog: http://nordicwalking.typepad.com/

Nordic Sports Blog: http://nordicsportsusa.blogspot.com/  

Email: getfit@SkiWalking.com

Many Nordic Walking Enthusiasts Started Out Using Old Ski Poles

Like myself, many of my customers launched their personal Nordic Walking campaigns using ski poles and then graduated to real Nordic Walking Poles.

Old ski poles work great on trails - especially if they are sized correctly. After my last running injury my ski poles provided a huge relief while hiking with poles on my favorite running trail. I already knew that ski poles worked great for ski walking and hill bounding - as a means to keep in shape and get ready for the next ski season. After coaching ski racers for over 25 years I knew that ski walking and hill bounding with poles, combined with running and roller skiing, were the secret weapons to prepare over the summer for another successful ski season.

One-piece ski poles, like one-piece Nordic Walking Poles, prove to be far superior to the cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock 2-piece and 3-piece Nordic Walking, trekking and snowshoe poles flooding the marketing from china.

One-piece ski poles and one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than  2-piece and 3-piece poles. One-piece Nordic Walking Poles have also proven to be lighter and much more user-friendly while hiking in the Grand Canyon. Skiers know that one-piece poles are better and skiers trust their one-piece poles.

At SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we have 14 different lengths and we also custom build poles for individuals over 6' 7" (at no extra cost). We also offer a Perfect Length Guarantee.

While taking orders today, Judith, an enthusiastic 71 year young lady told me about her success with her ski poles this past winter while walking in her apartment and around the neighborhood. She mentioned that her ski poles were a huge improvement over her walker. She also informed me that she had PD (Parkinson's Disease). She had recently purchased some adjustable poles, but she said "they sucked" and then told me that she sent them back. She was delighted to find our company offers 14 different one-piece lengths. Her new Nordic Walking Poles are shipping out first thing tomorrow.

As Judith discovered, one-piece poles don't rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly like the cheap/flimsy twist-locks and flip-locks from China do. I would recommend old ski poles, including the old bamboo poles, over these cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock poles coming in from China.

Be sure to ask where your poles are made. Judith's new SWIX Nordic Walking Poles are made in Lillehammer, Norway. Her poles are also equipped with comfortable patented straps (patented by the Salomon Ski Company) and include both durable carbide metal tips for trails, the beach snow and ice, plus removable rubber tips for pavement, carpet, tile and other hard surfaces.

Our company has donated hundreds of pairs of quality one-piece poles to the Wounded Warriors Programs. Once we know how tall a Wounded Warrior is we select the Perfect Length Poles for his/her height. While providing free Nordic Walking Classes for Wounded Warriors I quickly realized that they do not like their canes or walkers. The perfect length Nordic Walking Poles provided everyone that participated in our classes with improved walking posture (straighter back), plus greatly improved balance, stability and gait. Cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock poles could not hold up to the added stress put on the poles by the wounded warriors.

Walking with poles is the best, but be sure to avoid the cheap stuff from China and look for quality one-piece poles in the correct length for your height.