Nordic Sports and REAL Nordic Poles - For Walking, Running, Roller Skiing, Roller Blading (In-Line Skating), Nordic Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing

Nordic Sports require poles. And one-piece poles that are sized correctly are the norm in the Nordic Countries in Europe. Over 10 million Europeans are walking with poles in the cities, out in the country and up in the mountains and they are using one-piece poles - for hiking, trekking, ski walking, hill bounding and Nordic Walking. And millions more are using one-piece poles for roller skiing, roller blading (in-line skating), Nordic snowshoeing and cross country skiing. And then there is the "Alpine" culture - downhill skiers are strictly using quality one-piece poles too.

Why aren't they using cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece poles? Because they rattle, vibrate, aren't durable, aren't user-friendly, gradually collapse or fail altogether when not expected. There isn't a single ski shop or ski rental business that promotes 2-piece or 3-piece collapsible poles. Why? Because they are cheap, flimsy and inferior products.

So why are cheap/flimsy collapsible walking poles from China flooding the market here in the USA and Canada? Why do thousands of big box, sporting goods and online stores promoting the wonderful benefits of collapsible poles from China?

The answer is ignorance and/or making a fast buck. Seniors and anyone with a balance issue should never use cheap/flimsy collapsible poles. For everyday use quality one-piece poles superior.

A friend of mine manages a successful running shoe store. They carry snowshoes and by accident they were shipped dozens of pairs of collapsible snowshoe poles. He hides them under a bench out of sight. He states that they run a 100% dissatisfaction rate. They are expense poles collapsible poles. They are made by a big name in snowshoeing. They are made in China. And they are cheap/flimsy and do not hold their settings if they can even be twisted and locked into position in the first place. One-piece poles would prove to be user-friendly and super durable - not cheap, flimsy and disposable.

Here at WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we only recommend quality one-piece poles that are sized correctly for all Nordic and Alpine sports. We provide safe and effective Nordic Walking techniques that provide a variety of different exertion levels - there is an ideal level of intensity for everyone, every age and every fitness level. Our $69.95 basic Nordic Walking Poles from Norway are far superior to collapsible poles costing as much as $200.00 (from China).

When it comes to Nordic Walking a credible retailer would need to offer at least 16 different lengths. We offer 16 different lengths of quality EXEL Nordic Walking Poles from Finland and 16 different lengths of quality SWIX Nordic Walking Poles form Norway. All of these quality one-piece poles are equipped with metal tips for off-road use on grass, dirt, trails, the beach, the dunes, snow and ice. Removable rubber tips (asphalt paws) are included for use on pavement and other hard surfaces. All come equipped with real Nordic Walking Straps - quality fingerless glove type straps that are patented by the Salomon Ski Company. Free DVD and printed instructions included as well to ensure a successful walking campaign.

Alpine and Nordic means one-piece poles regardless of the hype put into promoting cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles from China.

Nordic Walking Success At 2010 Senior Empower Day

I had the opportunity to provide free Nordic walking classes and free Nordic walking pole demos during "Senior EmPower Day" in Lake City, Michigan last Friday. The 2010 "Senior EmPower Day" was held at Timber Wolf Lake Camp in Lake City, Michigan. The 600 acre wilderness setting was spectacular. Timber Wolf Lake Camp’s buildings look more like the lodges at Deer Valley Ski Resort than a camp. The conference facilities where ideal for indoor meetings and indoor Nordic Walking (rubber tips/asphalt paws on). The camp’s grounds were ideal for Nordic Walking outside.

The theme for this year's Senior EmPower Day was "The Power of Fun!" Attendees were reminded of the value of having "FUN" in their lives - the physical and emotional health benefits, the socialization opportunities and more. Senior Empower Day was hosted by the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan (AAANM). And Nordic Walking Poles helped to provide a fun fitness twist to the event. Instruction was based on the American Nordic Walking System.

Nordic walking with the correct length poles really does improve posture and helps to minimize stress to the weight bearing joints. Walking with the perfect length poles and correct technique also helps to burn more calories because the arms are more actively engaged and help to work more muscle groups than regular walking.

I am dedicated to the simple fact that one-piece poles that are sized correctly are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock 2-piece and 3-piece poles that tend to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly. I warn seniors and individuals with balance issues to avoid cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible walking poles. Our one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic walking poles have been consistently receiving 100% positive satisfaction ratings.

Nordic walking poles can help to turbo charge any walking campaign. And now Nordic walking is no longer just for skiers deprived of snow during the summer. 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. Our SWIX and EXEL 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 American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM is North America's leading retailer and supplier of Nordic walking poles and is North America's exclusive source for quality one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic walking poles. We are also the exclusive supplier of SWIX Nordic Walking and EXEL Nordic Walking rubber tips/asphalt paws. Company headquarters: Glen Arbor, Michigan. We also donate real Nordic Walking Poles to Wounded Warrior Programs at Walter Reed, Fort Lewis/Madigan/McChord, Fort Carson, Vicenza in Italy and Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany.

Nordic Walking is ideal for seniors and one-piece poles will help to ensure success because they are user-friendly, safer and stronger than collapsibles.

Nordic Walking Association Welcoming Diversity

Nordic Walking Associations have typically been nothing more than marketing tools for individuals and/or manufactures to sell their products - books and/or walking poles.

Up until recently the INWA (International Nordic Walking Association) had been giving a cold shoulder to pretty much anyone not aligned with EXEL Nordic Walking Poles. The INWA for years failed to recognize the efforts of Tom Rutlin and his dedication to promoting fitness pole walking here in the USA. The INWA was also unresponsive to my requests to join their organization because of my commitment to SWIX Nordic Walking Poles, SWIX ski racing poles and SWIX ski wax.

The INWA however is now on the right path. They have invited Tom Rutlin to be one of the keynote speakers at the INWA Annual Convention on September 23-26 in Otepaa, Estonia & Riga, Latvia.

Walking with poles may look goofy, but the benefits are huge. Walking with poles burns up to 40% more calories than regular walking. When using the perfect length poles and the correct technique the stress to the weight bear joints (ankles, knees, hips and back) is radically reduced - helping many with joint and/or back pain to walking much more comfortably and effectively. The poles also help to improve balance and stability.

Nordic Walking Poles can provide a winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits - helping many individuals to walk taller, faster and more 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.

When hosting Nordic Walking Classes and training new Nordic Walking Instructors I always provide durable and user-friendly one-piece Nordic Walking Poles. I am also a ski coach and will never feel comfortable promoting cheap/flimsy 2-piece or 3-piece twist-lock or flip-lock collapsible poles that often tend to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly. One-piece poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more dependable than collapsible poles.

I also prefer Nordic Walking Poles equipped with REAL Nordic Walking Straps - comfortable fingerless glove type straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company. These comfortable straps eliminate the need to grip and squeeze the poles. These same straps were used by all of the cross country skiers during the Winter Olympics. They have helped to revolutionize cross country skiing and they make Nordic Walking much more effective too. These special straps enable individuals to use poles again after they could no longer use strapless or other strap systems due to their arthritis and/or carpal tunnel. SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles utilize Salomon Patented Straps.

I just shipped out a couple dozen more pairs of our one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles to several Wounded Warrior Programs. We specialize in custom fitting our durable one-piece poles to their exact heights. So far we have donated hundreds of pairs of quality one-piece poles and the feedback from the soldiers, pt's, doctors and the Red Cross has been super positive. We have donated free poles and provided free shipping to Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, Fort Lewis/Madigan/McChord, Fort Carson, Vicenza in Italy and Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany.

Individuals with balance, stability and/or gait issues benefit most from reliable one-piece poles - including seniors. Collapsible poles should never be recommended to individuals with balance issues.

The INWA originally only promoted one-piece poles too. In that aspect I agreed with them.

I won't be able to make the INWA Convention in Estonia and Latvia. I would enjoy being there as an advocate for one-piece Nordic Walking Poles.

INWA Website: http://inwa-nordicwalking.com/

INWA Convention Info: www.firmasport.ee/failid/INWA_convention_brochure_2010_LR_opt.pdf

SWIX Nordic Walking Poles: http://www.swixnordicwalking.us/

EXEL Nordic Walking Poles: http://www.exelnordicwalking.com/

American Nordic Walking System: http://www.skiwalking.com/ 

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