Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Nordic Walking Poles And Roller Skis - In The Moonlight During Deer Season


Swenor Finstep Cap roller skis
It is deer season again and most of our favorite trails here in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are pretty much closed for a couple weeks - even our #1 trail up on Alligator Hill behind town.
Swenor Skate Elite roller skis
My personal Nordic Walking campaign has been cut back due to the fact that I'm testing ski gear - Salomon Cross Country Ski Boots and Swenor Roller Skis. I'm still teaching a bunch of Nordic Walking Classes, but I can never get enough of Nordic Walking. Every night this past week the moon light, even on cloudy evenings, made the visibility pretty decent for a short Nordic Walk and a longer roller ski.
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 Swenor Skate Elite Roller Skis come with a similar Nordic Camber and FASTER wheels to really get up to speed if you feel the need for speed. Total quality. Swenor Roller Skis are now available in the USA and are being distributed by SWIX USA. Additional info about Swenor Roller Skis can be found at: http://www.nordicskiracer.com/Equipment/2010/rollerskis/Swenor-2010-Catalog.pdf

I've also been testing the following Salomon Cross Country Boots this past week:

Salomon S-LAB SKATE PRO, S-LAB SKIATHLON and S-LAB CLASSIC. WOW. Best boots ever. Even with my weird feet they all skied great right out of the box.

For poles I snagged a pair of SWIX CT1's - can't ever go wrong with a pair of CT1's.

Once we get snow I'm fired up to test the New Salomon S-LAB EQUIPE 10 SKATE SKIS and S-LAB EQUIPE 10 CLASSIC SKIS - they look great and should be fast, especially after all the SWIX base prep that I've done to them.

When teaching Nordic Walking Classes and out doing my own personal ski walking i'm always using my SWIX VIP Nordic Walking Poles - custom made for me over in Norway. They are very similar to my Alu Star classic and skate poles come winter.

My roller skiing poles and Nordic Walking poles have a lot in common. Both are made by SWIX and both are a durable and super strong one-piece design. Cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles. Skiers know and appreciate the fact that their one-piece poles are stronger, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.

When it comes to Nordic Sports it is always best to go with one-piece non-collapsible poles that are sized correctly. The best straps for Nordic Sports are the fingerless glove type straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company and found on all of my walking poles and cross country ski poles.

My personal pole length:

125cm SWIX Poles for Nordic Walking

150cm SWIX Poles for Classic Cross Country Skiing

160cm SWIX Poles for Skate Cross Country Skiing

One-piece poles will always prove to be superior.

Friday, October 8, 2010

The American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM are Celebrating World Nordic Walking Day on October 10th, 2010

On Sunday, Oct. 10th, I’ll be providing free Nordic Walking Classes – group and private lessons here in Glen Arbor, Michigan at our Nordic Walking Headquarters. I’ll also be offering free guided Nordic Walking trips into the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Potential trips will go to Pyramid Point, Glen Haven, Alligator Hill and/or Devil’s Bowl. Flatter trails and less demanding trial options will also be offered. Durable and user-friendly one-piece Nordic Walking Poles will be provided at no charge during the lessons and the trips into the National Lakeshore - all individuals will receive the perfect length one-piece Nordic Walking Poles for their heights.

Over 8 million Europeans are walking with Nordic Walking Poles – in the cities (with rubber tips/asphalt paws on), out in the country and up in the mountains (rubber tips/paws off and exposing the durable carbide metal tips).

The INWA (International Nordic Walking Association) was formed 10 years ago and Nordic Walking enthusiasts from around the world will be celebrating “Nordic Walking Day”.  EXEL Nordic Walking Poles out of Finland founded and funded the INWA for years. Unfortunately for many years the INWA refused to accept my membership with their organization because I was dealing with SWIX Nordic Walking Poles from Norway. EXEL did coin the term “Nordic Walking” and developed teaching methods and techniques that stood apart from other forms of hiking, trekking and fitness walking with poles. SWIX and EXEL poles are very similar, known for extreme quality and both are most respected in the Nordic ski racing community.

Here in North America WWW.SKIWALKING.COM (The American Nordic Walking System) has been the leading supplier of SWIX and EXEL poles for years and is currently the exclusive source for all 16 lengths and is also the exclusive source for SWIX and EXEL rubber Nordic Walking tips/asphalt paws.

SWIX and EXEL have proven their quality in the Olympics and out on the World Cup. Both SWIX and EXEL are dedicated to the simple fact that one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles from China and Taiwan. Collapsible poles tend to rattle, vibrate, gradually collapse or collapse unexpectedly or simply fail/break.

All of us here at WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System are dedicated to this same simple fact about one-piece poles being superior to cheap/flimsy collapsibles. I’m a ski coach and it is a fact that collapsible poles are NEVER used for Nordic Skiing (cross country skiing), Roller Skiing or Nordic Blading (inline skating). Collapsible poles can’t take the stress. Skiers wouldn't use cheap/flimsy collapsible poles for the Ski Walking and Hill Bounding drills during the summer when deprived of snow - they only use and only recommend one-piece poles that are sized correctly.

Have FUN on World Nordic Walking Day!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

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.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

SWIX Nordic Ski Poles Win Prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design



The SWIX Triac cross country ski racing poles received the Red Dot Award for its innovative advances and technical improvements. Over 1,600 companies from 57 countries submitted entries. A total of 4,252 entries were presented to Red Dot’s internationally renowned expert jury. In the end only the very best from the field of the top-class participants were selected. The SWIX Triac cross country ski racing poles also had proven success in both the world cup and the Olympics. Especially notable are the fingerless glove type straps and the poles unique ability to accommodate a variety of basket sizes in order to adapt to varying snow conditions.

Link to the Red Dot website: http://en.red-dot.org/index.php?id=2878&tx_smtdbsearch_pi1%5Bswords%5D=swix

SWIX of Lillehammer, Norway makes the world’s best ski racing poles, the fastest ski wax and quality Nordic Walking Poles.

At SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System all of our Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with special fingerless glove type straps that prove to be comfortable and highly effective. All of our SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with these real Nordic type straps – patented by the Salomon Ski Company.

Strapless poles, simple loop strap poles and velcro sling type straps are not as effective as real Nordic straps that allow the power to be transmitted into the cradle of the strap eliminating the need to squeeze the poles. These quality straps are ideal for all Nordic Sports – including Nordic Walking.

The award winning Triac Poles are a durable, lightweight one-piece design. Those active in Nordic Sports demand quality one-piece poles and avoid cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles that are heavier and tend to rattle, vibrate, gradually collapse and/or collapse unexpectedly. One-piece poles prove to be lighter, safer and much more durable than cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.

And when it comes to Nordic Walking one-piece poles prove to be lighter, safer and much more durable than collapsible 2-piece and 3-piece poles.

Swix continues to lead the charge providing award winning ski poles, fast ski wax and quality Nordic walking poles.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Nordic Walking Poles Welcome At The Port Oneida Barn To Barn Trail Run/Walk 5K

The Port Oneida barn to barn trail run/walk will be unique in that the National Park Service (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) hasn’t approved a running/walk event in nearly two decades. This special running and walking event is a fundraiser for Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB).

The 5K (3.1 miles) course be a single loop trail course. The loop should prove to be one of the most scenic in the country. The course is pure cross country. Runners should not expect to break the 5K personal records due the challenges provided by the footing and hills. Runners and walkers will be treated to exceptional view of Sleeping Bear Bay while they traverse the top of the ridge along the Bay View Trail.

My daughter Cassidy Edwards, gold medallist at Junior Olympics in both cross country skiing and track, designed the trail course for serious runners, joggers and those who would enjoy a hike with beautiful vistas. She describes the run, which begins and ends at the Charles Olsen Farm, as a “unique tour of Sleeping Bear’s historic Port Oneida farmsteads.” The loop she has selected for the 5K will include several sections of the Bayview Trail and will take runners and walkers through the beautiful scenery of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a National Park just 30 miles west of Traverse City.

My wife Lissa Edwards was one of the founders of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and was instrumental in helping to save many of the now protected and newly renovated farmsteads from being torn down during the 1990’s.

Runners, joggers and walkers will find the 5K course to be a special tour of the Port Oneida Rural Historic district which is “one of the most prized historic landscapes in the country”! The course meanders through the pastoral landscape of farmsteads from the late 1800s nestled among the hills, and along the shores of Lake Michigan. The start and finish points are at the Park's historic Olsen farmstead which Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear restored in 2004.

Both Nordic Walking and Nordic Running (running with poles) will be allowed. Free use of Nordic Walking Poles will be provided by  WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System.

Event Website: http://www.phsb.org/programs/?id=189

For information call 231-334-6103 or email phsb@leelanau.com

To reserve Nordic Walking Poles for the event please call SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System: 231-334-3080 or email: getfit@skiwalking.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

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/

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Nordic Walking Certification Includes Unexpected 5km Gold Medal

Jim Bennett and Kathe Swanson decided to head north this summer, tour the Great Lakes in their RV and attempt to become certified Nordic Walking Instructors. When they arrived in beautiful Northern Michigan, home of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, they never envisioned that their Nordic Walking Certification Course would include bringing back a 5K "Gold Medal" to Orlando, Florida.

Kathe had personally seen the enthusiasm and high participation levels of Nordic Walking while visiting Europe. She and her partner Jim contacted SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System to see if they could partner with a North American company dedicated to quality Nordic Walking Poles and effective Nordic Walking Instruction.

They had researched a variety of Nordic Walking companies and manufactures. Many of the companies they contacted had amnesia when it came to where their 2-piece and 3-piece poles were made? Most likely they were all made in China.

After testing the one-piece EXEL Urban Skier Nordic Walking Poles sized specifically for each of their heights from SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System they knew they had found quality poles from a company dedicated to maintaining 100% positive satisfaction ratings. Quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and stronger than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles. One-piece poles that are sized correctly don’t rattle, vibrate, collapse gradually or collapse unexpectedly. SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System offer 16 different standard lengths, while others may only offer three to six different lengths that can’t possibly provide the perfect length poles for most individuals.

EXEL, based in Finland, is credited for producing the first carbon composite ski racing poles and dominated the medal count at the Olympics for years. Then EXEL launched the first true Nordic Walking Poles when they produced the EXEL Nordic Walker poles. EXEL's Nordic Walking poles differed from other walking poles in that they were based on a cross country pole design/Nordic design - lighter and stronger than 2-piece and 3-piece collapsibles. Prior to the introduction of the EXEL Nordic Walker Poles, walking poles were based more on heavier alpine/downhill designs - similar to trekking poles.

All of the SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles from WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System are equipped with highly effective and comfortable fingerless glove type straps – patented by the Salomon Ski Company. Other types of walking poles may come with no straps, a simple loop strap or cheap velcro slings. Quality cross country ski poles are now all equipped with the more effective fingerless glove type straps – eliminating the need to grip the poles and effectively transmit power into the cradle of the straps through the heel of the hand. SWIX cross country racing poles dominated at the Olympics this year and all were equipped with fingerless glove type straps.

Individuals can experience some, but definitely not all of the many wonderful benefits of Nordic Walking with nearly any type of poles as long as they are sized correctly – downhill poles, cross country poles, trekking poles, ...... Many of my customers said they had experimented with yardsticks, two canes (too short, but better than one cane) and misc. yard tools. One of my favorite fitness instructors provides simple strapless bamboo sticks to help get his classes moving while he uses REAL Nordic Walking Poles and further explains their many advantages.

When someone is interested in Nordic Walking they should not run out and buy a cheap/flimsy pair of twist-lock or flip-lock poles to see if they will like Nordic Walking. They would be better off testing some old ski poles, two walking sticks or any thing handy that can give them a quick feel for walking with poles. I have been told by hundreds of happy customers that they could tell immediately that walking with poles was a huge improvement over regular walking, or walking with a cane, or even a walker.

The perfect length one-piece Nordic Walking Poles can help us all 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.

Part of Jim and Kathe’s Nordic Walking Certification process included not only a review of the American Nordic Walking System, but required participation in a 5km Race. Unfortunately Jim was under the weather and missed out on the Annual Sleeping Bear 5k, but Kathe rose to the occasion and won a gold medal in her age group!

The Nordic Walking certification courses offered by The American Nordic Walking System differ hugely from other certification courses. The cost is much less. The courses are based on my 25 plus years of coaching experience (runners and skiers), my hosting of hundreds of Nordic Walking Classes and my introduction of Nordic Walking to thousands of individuals.

When I became a certified Nordic Walking Instructor I knew the desired answers to many of the test’s questions were incorrect. My running and ski background had taught me that alignment and proper biomechanics are critical. I knew that there should be NO “leaning” while Nordic Walking (flats or uphills), NO fake elongated strides and NO siting back on the downhills. Many DVD’s and books about Nordic Walking include a lot of leaning, elongated strides and sitting back. Plus many DVD'’ and books provide poor sizing information – claiming that you can simply take one’s height and multiply by .68 or .7 and come up with the perfect length poles for an individual’s height. Being a ski coach I know that skis and poles from different companies are not measured the same and using .68 or .7 would be wrong. The goal is to get that elbow and 90 degrees and the forearm parallel to the ground when standing tall.
Congratulations to Kathe for winning her Gold Medal while Nordic Walking in the Sleeping Bear 5K - over 700 runners, walkers and Nordic Walkers participated! And as soon as she completes the written portion of her certification process she will become a Level 1 Certified Nordic Walking Instructor! Upon completion of additional requirements (including more hands on teaching and acquiring additional student testimonies) she will become Level 2 Certified. And next year she may be ready to tackle Level 3 Nordic Walking Certification.