About Original Nordic Walking History - by Author Marko Kantaneva

Original Nordic Walking since 1997
Nordic walking in its current form began its way across the world from Finland in spring 1997. Marko Kantaneva had already developed various nordic walking exercises for course groups during his studies and work at the Finnish Sports Institute at Vierumäki, Finland, in 1994 – 1997. Marko had used nordic walking as a part of his graduation theses (1994-1997), in spite of the fact that at these times the physical activity itself did not even exist! This fact was known also to his highly respected professor Risto Virtanen, who was contacted by the managing director of Suomen Latu (The Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities) Tuomo Jantunen. Tuomo asked Risto an article about this crazy physical activity, and provide a couple of photos showing the correct technique of walking with poles. Risto told him that he knew someone, who would definitely handle the request.

SAUVAKÄVELY - First manual for the teaching the technique of nordic walking
After Marko received the contact information from Risto Virtanen, he contacted Tuomo Jantunen and introduced himself. Marko enquired about the requirements to the content of the article. “Six pages,” Tuomo said, and the writing project begun. To compensate this work, they agreed on an educational scholarship of 1000 Finnish marks (165 € / 235 USD) of the times, which paid for his studies. The text was completed soon, because Marko had already previously studied the topic in relation to physical education instruction at the Finnish Sports Institute, as well as in the course of completing his graduation thesis majoring as a Physical Education Instructor.

Soon after sending the text Marko received a feedback enquiry from Tuomo. “Thank you for the text. Would it be possible to organise a photo-shoot at Vierumäki? I will organise some poles through Exel, would you bring the models for shooting”. They agreed on the day of the shoot, and on the agreed day a photo-shoot was organised on the grounds of the Finnish Sports Institute at Vierumäki. Pictures were taken according to the guidelines that Marko had laid down in the Suomen Latu magazine Latu&Polku. After the shooting session they went to have a cup of coffee, where they were joined by the pole line product manager of the time Taisto Manninen of Exel Oyj.

PICTURE: This is a facsimile of the original 1997 publication “Sauvakävely” which was written in April 1997 by Marko Kantaneva and subsequently published in the Autumn of that year. In the meantime, Exel Oyj produced their “Walker®” branded nordic walking pole following the size guidelines recommended by Marko which involved three lengths of 120cms, 125cms and 130cms.These poles were to be the first strapped nordic walking poles on the market. Furthermore, Marko’s text “Sauvakävely” is the first groundbreaking manual for the teaching the technique of what was to become known worldwide as nordic walking. “Sauvakävely” is written in straightforward language, avoiding scientific jargon, and is therefore readily accessible for nordic walking education.

The birth of nordic walking poles

Together with Taisto Marko started enthusiastically to design the very first nordic walking pole. The spiketip was taken as the object of the most detailed design work. Marko considered this the only necessary and absolutely crucial special feature of a nordic walking pole. Marko himself had a number of unpleasant memories of long hikes during his skier years, when his progress was often hampered by branches or pieces of bark clinging to the pole tips. To his mind, this was to be prevented in the future product. The tip had to be blunt, but yet sharp enough to take a grip, even on sandy paths. At that time, Marko took it for granted that nordic walking is mostly suited for forest paths. In addition to the tip, Marko wanted to reduce the size of the spiketip, because the large winter spiketip often got stuck in bushes and grass. Marko wanted to make sure that this detail too would not disturb progress by nordic walkers on narrow trails through woods. These notes concluded our first “product development meeting” in the history of nordic walking. On the same occasion, when leaving Vierumäki, Taisto Manninen left him a stack of cross-country ski poles for testing. Marko´s task was to determine three basic pole sizes. (Remember - dear reader - at these times nordic walking did not even exist, and Exel strongly doubted that sports gear traders would not be prepared to include a new product with a large spread of different length versions of poles).

A few days after our meeting, Taisto contacted Marko again and said that the drawings of the nordic walking pole spike tips were ready. They agreed on the next meeting time, and studied the drawings during a coffee break at the Kaskela canteen of the Finnish Sports Institute. The drawings were quite satisfactory, and complied pretty accurately to the design that Marko had been created some days earlier. Marko also managed to convince Taisto that the investment would be worth it, and that the product - nordic walking - itself is good. At the end of the meeting they shook hands, and Taisto reminded Marko once again to study the size alternatives of the ski poles.

Correct length of the nordic walking poles

Some weeks after this meeting, Marko´s mobile phone rang in the middle of my morning coffee. The display said TAISTO EXEL. – “It’s Taisto from Exel, hi, I have a text for the promotional newsletter, but have you completed the size table of walking poles already? This is the only one thing needed to start marketing the sport”. Marko had not even remembered the thing. Yet he responded: “Just a minute, I am in a quite inconvenient spot right now, could I call you back in a moment?” So that’s what they agreed on. Marko did immediately rushed out into the shed, which was standing in the yard of his apartment building. Marko grabbed a bunch of ski poles that Taisto had left him. He glanced around, and then he noticed their neighbour  Pekka Nakari standing in the yard, watching his children play. Marko asked Pekka first if he had a moment. He indeed had time, and so two men, both at least 190 cm tall, started the nordic walking poles calculation tests. They walked a bit, and then discussed their reactions to nordic walking. Marko acted as the recorder, and wrote down the results. He had one clear starting point for determining the length of the walking poles. The pole had to be shorter than cross-country ski poles or the training poles for slopes that skiers use. This hypothesis about the length of the poles had been proven through experience acquired in the course of nordic walking lessons he had given. After they completed their field tests, Marko went back home and sat down at the computer. He prepared a dimensional chart based on the walkers’ height from 1.5 m all the way to 2 m. The poles at his disposal for commercial use had three different lengths. He determined them as 120 cm, 125 cm and 130 cm.

This size spread, which is based on their testing, is still in use as a base for selecting nordic walking poles. Later, he says - "it has even been fun discussing the proper dimensions of nordic walking poles. From time to time, I have discussed this topic – even slightly mischievously - when someone has come up with absolutist visions on proper dimensions referring to the pole selection table. Then I usually ask the reasoning behind their statements and I have been often amazed by the fanatic way people attempt to motivate their position in scientific terms. Developing this size spread has convinced me that accomplishing a functional and practical thing in this world is not too difficult, provided that people have a clear vision on what they are looking for - especially since, based on my experience and my clear view of the correct length of the “Original Nordic Walking pole” I came to exactly the right conclusion at the time of the spring 1997. Scientific certainty to that - that my conclusion has been correct - I got later at 2004 in a study which was organized in KIHU – in the Research Institute for Olympic Sports in Jyväskylä,Finland ". SEE VIDEO >>

First ever nordic walking advertisement
By later summer 1997, Exel Oyj had completed the product – Nordic Walker – walking pole. Marko was on of the firsts to receive from Taisto the proper ‘tools’ for his use. Exel had based its very first marketing material word to word on the oeuvre “SAUVAKÄVELY” that Marko had write and published by Suomen Latu.

PICTURE: (1997 The first ever made nordic walking advertisement!)In a Exel advertisement at the cover is visible Marko´s hands and in a middle of the poles Marko is doing “Original Nordic Walking”. Pictures as well the text of advertisement was taken from Marko´s oeuvre “SAUVAKÄVELY”.

Furthermore, Suomen Latu started to organised various event nights in order to promote the physical activity in Finland. Marko did his share of the work from the Finnish Sports Institute.

Beginning of the nordic walking education

In autumn 1997, Marko also carried out training events for the very first Suomen Latu nordic walking (Original) instructors.

The first winter (1997-1998) already showed signs of nordic walking becoming popular an all-year-round physical activity. Over the entire winter season 1997–1998, Marko - in Finnish Sports Institute - lead daily nordic walking courses by following the instruction he had wrote to his oeuvre “SAUVAKÄVELY” in spring 1997. This was when it was discovered that people wished to practise nordic walking not just only all-year-round, but as well from their very doorsteps.

Asphalt paw

The next step in walking poles product development process was creating a real asphalt paw. A rubber paw attached to the spiketip of the pole made it possible to practice nordic walking in cities on asphalt roads such as Marko describes in his oeuvre. Moreover, it opened eyes to the fact that nordic walking can be practised in any corner of the world, and at any time, because nordic walking is not dependent on weather conditions, time of year, or circumstances. Exel started to study this issue, and – initially – cast its glance on European markets, first and foremost Germany, in 2000 based on its information to Marko´s oeuvre.

Nordic walking breakthrough in 1998

Marko published the first major domestic article promoting the activity for the column titled ‘Next Step’ he wrote at the time for Seura Magazine, Finland. 1998 may be seen as the boom year for the nordic walking craze in Finland. The number of enthusiasts leaped from nearly zero to over a hundred thousand (120 000) people practising nordic walking at least once a week! 1998 taught Marko personally a lot about nordic walking and how to teaching it. At that time, he worked with nordic walking around the clock and seven days a week. At the Institute and outside it. Marko was developing new methods and ways of teaching people swifter and easier ways of learning the sport’s secrets almost every day. The activity indeed spread extremely fast around the country, and was a continuous media subject. The training sessions based on the “all from nothing” principle, as well as completing the instruction book entitled from nordic walking to Pole Sports, were challenging tasks, because Marko had to invent everything from scratch. This period set up the true guidelines for the international development of the physical activity.

First ever nordic walking guidebook

From "Nordic walking to pole sports", a brochure published at own expense, was completed by spring 1999. Along with performing other tasks, the guidebook was sold and marketed enthusiastically. The guidebook was also used as the script for the nordic walking training video 2 released by Suomen Latu (The Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities).

First ever nordic walking book

The work done for promoting nordic walking was producing results to Marko and helped him to establish contacts with the Gummerus publishing house. Almost from the start, at first meeting at the office of Gummerus company, they agreed with the general editor Risto Väisänen to prepare a proper book on workout with poles and nordic walking.

Through numerous co-operation projects related to nordic walking and nordic blading (inline skating with the poles), Marko´s good contacts with Exel Oyj became even stronger. Furthermore, in late Autumn 1999 Marko wrote and put together a nordic blading instruction package for Exel and the K2 Skate College. Everything seemed possible along with the popularity of nordic walking. No-one was astonished any more seeing different kinds of people walking with poles. Instead, one often heard comments like: “Could swimming also be practised with poles?”

INWA

INWA (International Nordic Walking Association) was founded in spring 2000 and Exel Oyj’s marketing manager, Aki Karihtala, invited Marko to be a founding member, as well as a member of the board and a head coach of the organisation. Later that autumn, Marko established an employment relation with Exel. This is how Marko started to learn the trade – first as pole product manager for Exel Oyj, a position that was subsequently turned into product line manager. Marko was in a splendid situation, because now he was able to have an impact on the development of the physical activity in its every individual aspect. To put it mildly – he was enthusiastic then. Meanwhile, nordic walking had developed to an extent whereby in 2000 nearly half a million Finns practised it! Under the circumstances, it was a great pleasure for Marko to publish in 2001 the world’s very first book on nordic walking as well as manufacturing top quality products for the enthusiasts of this physical activity.

In 2001 and 2002, most of his time was spent on learning his new job and travelling around Finland and the rest of the world participating in various nordic walking education events organised by INWA. INWA’s operations were continuously developing and in August 2002 there were already nearly 30 INWA Master Trainers around the world. The results of Marko´s work also began to emerge internationally. Furthermore, a number of sports gear manufacturers like; LEKI, SWIX, KOMPERDELL, KARHU, MASTERS, GABEL, ODLO etc. had become involved in the market. nordic walking had become a truly significant business field for a pole producers, sport textile and shoe industry!

Nordic walking International breakthrough in 2003

2003 was the year of visible growth in nordic walking on an international scale. The number of INWA Master Trainers doubled during spring 2003, reaching about sixty (60) trainers. In 2003, most of my time was indeed spent on providing information about nordic walking. The participants of the “tour” came from Germany, Austria, Italy, Norway, Luxembourg, Estonia, USA, Iceland, Holland, England, Denmark, Slovenia and Croatia. In these cases - Marko always went to the mountain - so there was plenty of travel involved for him.

Development of the nordic walking

Every training event involving accomplished top professionals of physical education is extremely challenging and extremely educating for any coach. Many new perspectives have been revealed to Marko through his discussions and contacts with different cultures resulting from these seminars and education events.

At the same time, however, it must be admitted that the basics of nordic walking have not changed at all from those days in spring 1997. In 1997 a person walking with poles, accompanied with amused mockery, had to sneak in shame to seek shelter in woods.

Today, in 2011, polls show that in Finland alone there are more and less 1-1.5 million enthusiasts of nordic walking. Since Finnish population is 5.2 million, this means that approximately 20% of Finns regularly practise nordic walking at least once a week! Based on different sources, it is estimated that currently there are about 14 million nordic walking enthusiasts in the world.

When nordic walking was still taking its first steps, it was called ‘dementia walking’ in Finland because people thought that those who practised it had forgotten their skis at home. Moreover, nordic walking was considered clearly as foolish nonsense.

Today, this wild craze has captured Finland, and spread evenly around the world where it is practised by various target groups. Internationally, nordic walking is still taking its first steps but its foundation is so stable that it is easy to pick up from there. Original Nordic Walking - Sauvakävely rules!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Source: Original Nordic Walking - Sauvakävely, Marko Kantaneva, Gummerus 2005.

Please, note: Sauvakävely is known today worldwide with name Nordic Walking.