The history and birth of Nordic Walking

1930’s

Cross-country skiers train in summer with ski poles. Training is mainly pole bounding, which means bounding uphill with a fast heart rate. Also, long hikes with ski poles are arranged.

1980’s

Mr Tuomo Jantunen, the executive director of Suomen Latu, thinks that walking with ski poles would be great exercise for everybody. The health effects of walking are also researched on the higher educational level. Walking is the most popular sport in Finland, but it is not in general done effectively enough, and as a result it does not provide enough health benefits. Greater enthusiasm for Nordic Walking does not really take place yet.

1988

On 5 January the statue of Mr Lauri “Tahko” Pihkala is unveiled in the Olympic Stadium. Suomen Latu advises participants to come with some kind of sports equipment and proposes that everybody ski the five kilometres from their Maunula cabin. But since all the snow has melted, Mr Jantunen takes a bunch of poles with him and invites volunteers from the sports school in Lahti to join the event. Even ordinary people arrive at the Maunula cabin and about fifty people walk with ski poles to the Olympic Stadium. The unveiling of the statue and all the people with their poles are filmed for TV.

1990’s

During the next years, Jantunen and his colleagues introduce the sport in nearly every sports event that Suomen Latu arranges for work communities. The new sport is introduced to, among others, employees in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Education. People also walk with small rocks in their hands or weights on their wrists. The poles used are still ski poles and those who try the new sport look at it for the most part somewhat amused.

At the same time in several physical education colleges the concept of walking to improve one’s level of fitness is highlighted. Especially in Vierumäki the testing manager, Mr Matti Heikkilä, takes along ski poles to training sessions. He also makes, with the help of a pulse counter, semi-scientific tests on the effectiveness of pole walking. The tests show that when a person walks with poles his heart rate is 10-20 per cent higher than when walking without poles at the same speed. The experimenters report that the workload does not really seem to increase, however. Annually thousands of people are trained in the new sport in Vierumäki.

During the next years, Jantunen and his colleagues introduce the sport in nearly every sports event that Suomen Latu arranges for work communities

1993

The research project entitled “The Energy Cost of Walking with and without Arm Activity on Cross Walk Dual Motion Cross Training” is released in the United States. The research is connected to the power walking boom, which started in the 1980’s. Power walking means walking with devices such as hand and leg weights, and sometimes poles. According to research walking with poles increases oxygen consumption on average 18 per cent, compared with normal walking.

1996

Suomen Latu releases an article on walking and exercising with poles. In the same year Suomen Latu, the Sport Institute of Finland and pole manufacturer Exel meet to consider the future of the sport. The sport itself, techniques, training and products begin to be developed.

1997

Suomen Latu turns 60 years old. Mr Jantunen proposes that a brochure of pole gymnastic and pole walking be made to commemorate the jubilee year. Exel launches the international term “Nordic Walking”. In spring Mr Jantunen goes to Vierumäki with a work group to produce a Nordic Walking brochure. An agent of Exel, Mr Taisto Manninen, arrives at the location and brings experimental and special-made walking poles which have gloves already attached to the handle. The crew notices that poles need to be somewhat shorter than when skiing - this makes walking more effective. The sharp tip of a ski pole does not have a good grip on hard, snowless land. Nordic Walking poles begin to be developed further . Also, physical education instructor students from the Sport Institute of Finland took part in developmental work.

The Tunturikerho Kavtsi has a birthday in the autumn. Mr Jantunen arrives to congratulate them with an armful of brand-new walking poles. While presenting poles to those present he suggests organizing a public event in Paloheinä, Helsinki. Later Suomen Latu has an advertisement in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper; a structured Nordic Walking in Paloheinä will be held on Tuesday evening. In addition to Mr Jantunen, walkers from Kavtsi, led by Ms Anja Rönnberg, are engaged as instructors. 50 people arrive at the event in Paloheinä. Next week there are a hundred people and soon a couple hundred middle-aged women pole walk behind Mr Jantunen and other guides. Soon Nordic Walking groups are also organized in other Suomen Latu local branches across Finland.

In 1997 Exel launches the international term “Nordic Walking”.

In the same autumn the first TV program about Nordic Walking is aired. After a few TV shows the phones at Suomen Latu are ringing off the hook; people really want to know more about Nordic Walking. The Nordic Walking boom starts in earnest.

1998

In spring Suomen Latu organizes instructor training for its local associations and others who are interested, among them the Finnish Heart Association and the Heli Pulmonary Association. The training lasts four hours. Suomen Latu receives a grant of 50 000 marks from the “Kunnossa kaiken ikää” project. All the money is used to buy poles, which are given to instructors who took part in the training. Exel is still the only company that produces walking poles. Poles have now luminous tape and the handle is more advanced. The first poles are sold in Sweden and Switzerland.

In spring organization secretary Ms Sirpa Arvonen teaches Nordic Walking several times on MTV3’s TV show “Huomenta Suomi”. Ms Arvonen acts as the coordinator and head instructor of the sport in Finland until autumn 2005.

In summer a Nordic Walking centre is founded in Paloheinä. More than 23 000 Nordic walkers visit there over the summer.

In summer a Nordic Walking centre is founded in Paloheinä. More than 23 000 Nordic walkers visit there over the summer.

Nordic Walking is marketed to Suomen Latu’s cooperative associations in Oslo, Stockholm and Denmark. Suomen Latu recruits a trained instructor, Ms Irmeli Heikkinen, for the Canaries in Playa del Ingles for six months to run daily Nordic Walking sessions. Ms Heikkinen reports in the Latu ja Polku magazine that the first morning, only one couple came, and that over time she came to hear in many languages, “But the skis are missing!”

Mr Jantunen and Ms Arvonen go to Mäntyniemi before Christmas to introduce Nordic Walking to the President of Finland, Mr Martti Ahtisaari, and his wife Eeva Ahtisaari. The President learns the right technique at once and the First Lady does as well “after a little guidance”.

The Sunday Times shows Pope John Paul II’s Nordic Walking trek in the Dolomites. In September Ms Arvonen writes a script and produces a Nordic Walking video, which sells thousands of copies in department stores and book clubs.

Poles were given to every Finnish backpacker in Kilimanjaro. At the same the time Mr Jantunen changes the modern Exel poles for traditional Kilimanjaro wooden poles.

Suomen Latu is awarded the “Vuoden Terveysteko” (Health Act of the Year) prize for its work among Nordic Walking. According to research, 160 000 Finns go Nordic Walking regularly.

1999

Four-hour Nordic Walking training is expanded to full-day training at the beginning of the year. New brochures and training material are made and more Nordic Walking instructors are trained.

Ms Arvonen and Mr Heikkilä run Nordic Walking training in many spas and in the Heli Pulmonary Association’s training centres.

The Scandinavian Nordic Walking seminar is held in August. Nordic Walking Video Number 2 appears. According to research there are already 280 000 people who Nordic Walk regularly, and there are now also Nordic Walkers in Austria and Germany.

2000

The International Nordic Walking Association INWA is founded. Its main task is to develop Nordic Walking training internationally and to found a global network for Nordic Walking instructors. The first member countries are Finland, Germany and Austria.

The first Finlandia Nordic Walk event is held in the autumn in Lahti; there are 190 participants. Exel is awarded the Innosuomi 2000 Prize for developing Nordic Walking. 480 000 Finnish now do Nordic Walking regularly.

The first Finlandia Nordic Walk event is held in the autumn in Lahti; there are 190 participants.

2002

On 4 October Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, attends the youth work activation programme Avartti’s International Conference in Finland. He is taught Nordic Walking in Katajanokka, Helsinki, and given a pair of walking poles. The Prince reports that he better understands hiking with one pole rather than two, but promises to try the sport back in Great Britain.

On 12 October 300 people participate in the third Finlandia Nordic Walk event in Salpausselkä, Lahti.

On 19 October Mr Seppo Laukkanen, a 38-year-old masseur from Juankoski, wins the Finnish Championship of Nordic Walking Marathon with an unofficial World Record time of 4.00.50. “That’s it and not a meter more!” says the winner after crossing the finish line in Tampere. There were 34 participants. The winner of women division is Ms Salla Tykkä. Suomen Latu turns up its nose at all of this – competition is not seen by them as part of this sport.

Research done at the Cooper Institute, Dallas, is published in October. According to the research, sponsored by Exel, Nordic Walking increases oxygen consumption by an average of 20 per cent, with some testees this is up to 46 per cent. Similar findings have also been discovered in other research. Mr Heikkilä, testing manager in Vierumäki, worries that too many Nordic walkers still just “take their poles for a walk.” Only the right pole technique provides the full potential benefits of the sport.

According to the research, sponsored by Exel, Nordic Walking increases oxygen consumption by an average of 20 per cent, with some testees this is up to 46 per cent.

In addition to Exel, Karhu and Swix also start to manufacture poles, among others.

INWA’s functions start in earnest. At the beginning of the year an international instructors training system is started. Suomen Latu joins INWA.

There are already 3 500 instructors trained by Suomen Latu.

The sport finds its way into the rest of the Nordic countries.

Nordic Walking is also taught in Switzerland, France, the USA, Germany, Japan and New Zealand. It is estimated that there are now 700 000 – 800 000 Nordic walkers in the world.

In the autumn, the Finnish Sports Federation publishes research that proves Nordic Walking to be the 7th most popular sports hobby among adults; poles outstrip many ball games. The number of Nordic walkers has settled at around half a million. Also the sport has developed, as Health Nordic Walking is good for beginners, while fit and more experienced walkers can try Fitness and Power Nordic Walking.

1 600 000 Finnish, of whom over 600 000 are men, have tried Nordic Walking at least once in the previous year.

On 27 October a new Guinness World Record is tried to be made in Vantaa: Nordic Walking 25 hours in a day. How? This is possible when transferring back to standard time from daylight saving time.

Suomen Latu is awarded first prize from the Fatness Research Institute due to the work it has done to develop Nordic Walking.

2004

In the autumn Nordic Walk Check events are arranged in 22 cities and towns. In checks arranged by Skiing Track associations, a total of 1 300 Nordic walkers participate. According to a research there are 760 000 regular Nordic walkers; 1.5 million Finnish have tried the sport at least once during the past year year.

2005

Yle chooses fitness to be the main theme of the year 2005. This theme is heard and seen in Yle’s Finnish and Swedish radio and TV channels throughout the year. The project manager of Yle’s “Suomi Liikkeelle” campaign (Finland on the Move) contacts Suomen Latu and asks it to join the National Nordic Walk Week and national Nordic Walk Day on 25 September. The President of the Republic also joins the campaign and Nordic Walks on the “Syke sytyttää” programme on TV.

National Nordic Walk Week is arranged from 17 to 25 September. The sponsors are Yle Suomi Liikkeelle, the Finnish Sports Federation, Suomen Latu and Skiing Track associations. The campaign is coordinated by the office of Suomen Latu in cooperation with the pole manufacturer Exel, the shoe manufacturer Ecco Receptor and Intersport retailers.

On 17 September Suomen Latu’s local associations organise Nordic Walk Checks in 49 cities and towns. There are more than 2 000 walkers, and a similar number of spectators. Instructors of Skiing Track associations offer guidance on pole stops on three different levels.

On 17 September 2005 Suomen Latu’s local associations organise Nordic Walk Checks in 49 cities and towns.

On 25 September, the National Nordic Walk Day, people gather all over Finland into pole lines and do Suomi Liikkeelle exercises with their poles.

The main event is organised in Mikkeli. Lines are made in 20 cities and towns, with total of 1 328 participants.

Yle carries out an event in Etelä-Savo, in southeastern Finland, together with YLE Etelä-Savo Radio, the Finnish Sports Federation’s local association Etelä-Savon Liikunta ry and Suomen Latu, from 19 to 24 September. During the week people Nordic Walk from Savonlinna to Mikkeli. Finnish celebrities Ms Eeva Polttila, Mr Risto Autio and Ms Hilla Bolmberg act as Nordic Walking models.

The Etelä-Savo Radio keeps Nordic Walk Week actively in the headlines all week through its broadcasts. There are marketplace events every day in cities and towns during the week.

These events are part of the Yle’s “Suomi Liikkeelle” campaign, in which the Finnish Sports Federation, Suomen Latu and TV and radio channels all talk about health and fitness. Yle’s “Suomi Liikkeelle” campaign is given the Social Communication of the Year Award.

Oulun Latu visits all the junior schools in the city to guide fourth to sixth graders on how to do Nordic Walking. German Fit for Fun magazine mentions Nordic Walking and Nordic Fitness Sports as among the mega trends of the year.

2006

Suomen Latu’s local associations independently organize Nordic Walk Checks, as in previous years. According to research there are 720 000 people who Nordic walk regularly. 1.5 million Finns have tried Nordic Walking at least once during the previous year. Nordic Walking is most popular among people over age 65. Nordic Walking is especially done by those who live in the countryside or in small towns.

Nordic Walking is ever more popular also in the rest of the world. There are total about seven million Nordic walkers. Most of these are in central Europe and Finland. According to studies there are already 2.5 million Nordic walkers in Germany, 800 000 in Austria and 360 000 in Sweden. The sport is spreading to big countries like the USA and China, so the amount of walkers is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. The INWA has 17 member countries and already has instructors in about 40 countries.

In 2006 Nordic Walking is ever more popular also in the rest of the world. There are total about seven million Nordic walkers.

2007

Nordic Walking turns ten years old. The sport is celebrated throughout the year.

In February in Jäähelmi the Winter Party organises a Nordic Walking event around Töölönlahti. Along the trail it is possible to get to know the history of the sport in a jubilee exhibition at the outdoor activity centre in Töölönlahti. At the same time they stop by at the famous Tahko Pihkala statue.

In April members of the Suomen Latu’s walking club get their own poles.

The chain store Sokos has pole-exchange weeks, and this encourages people to exchange their old poles for new ones. At the same time customers get some tips on technique.

The term “Nordic Walking” is now used internationally. There are about seven million active walkers, and Nordic Walking is one of the most rapidly developing hobbies in the world.

On 10 May the WHO’s “Liike terveemmäksi” Day also invites people to Nordic Walk.

On 26 August a ten-year jubilee walk is arranged, in cooperation with Tunturilatu Kavtsi, in the birthplace of the sport in Paloheinä, Helsinki, where Nordic Walking groups have gone continuously already ten years. Suomen Latu’s other member associations also organise Nordic Walk events throughout Finland.

Due to the jubilee year the brochure and training material of Nordic Walking are both updated. The two-day Nordic Walk instructor elementary course adds a one-day further education for physical education professionals.

The term “Nordic Walking” is now used internationally. There are about seven million active walkers, and Nordic Walking is one of the most rapidly developing hobbies in the world.