Nordic walking compared to cross-country skiing

An article from a few years ago compared cross-country skiing and Nordic walking. Cross-country skiers invented Nordic walking so they could keep working out when there was no snow. 

Cross-country skiing is certainly the more taxing of the 2 activities, but there are ways to increase the intensity of Nordic walking. For example, turning your Nordic walking route into a circuit with different bodyweight exercises like pushups, planks, and lunges can get your heart rate up in no time.

Cross-country skiing	Nordic walking
Exceptional cardio-vascular workout	Excellent but lower intensity
Heavy upper body involvement	Full engagement of the upper body
Less beginner-friendly; must master skiing	More beginner-friendly
Low impact but terrain may be rough	Low impact on more hospitable terrain
Higher intensity for more fat-burning	Lower intensity but upper body involvement increases fat-burning over regular walking

How to tell Nordic walking is working your upper body

Check out this video of Nordic walking instructor Malin Svensson on a local newscast a while back. At 1:38 to 2:26, she takes the walker through a series of checks to demonstrate that using poles engages the upper body. Then she explains why it works that way.

At 4:04 she explains why hiking/trekking poles won't work properly for Nordic walking.

Try it on yourself. You can use a broomstick to try it out.

Nordic walking sampler in Tuscaloosa County on June 17

Find out what Nordic walking is all about. Check out my posts from the National Senior Games at Nordic Walking Guy on Facebook.

When: June 17 at 10 AM

Where: Sokol Park (Trail Head, 5901 Watermelon Road, Northport)

No charge. Poles provided. Dress for the weather, and bring some water.

Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor

Why Nordic walking?

• Full body, low impact
• Increase weight loss
• Improve cholesterol
• Improve blood pressure
• Facilitate rehabilitation
• Maintain stability and balance
• Maintain posture
• Facilitate stress relief
• Support muscle toning
• Improve cardiovascular function
• Improve lung capacity
• Support immune system
• Socialize with walking companions
• You determine the intensity of your workout