Nordic Walking in South Tyrol

The beginnings of this sport date back to the 1930s. Known as "stock walking," it was mainly part of the training for cross-country skiers in the summer months to improve conditioning and movement patterns. In the USA, it later became known in professional circles as "pole walking." But it wasn't until 1997, when the Finn Marko Kantaneva introduced "Nordic Walking" to the general public in cooperation with a pole manufacturer, that the new trend took off.

Since then, "Nordic Walking" has been a great success story, with "walking with poles" becoming an absolute trend sport. Nordic Walking knows no age limits and is suitable for both ambitious, performance-oriented athletes and less trained individuals. Everyone can tailor their training program to their own wishes. The only equipment needed is the special Nordic Walking poles and possibly your own Nordic Walking shoes.

The positive effect on health and well-being is undisputed. The use of poles turns walking into a training exercise, in which, similar to cross-country skiing, the muscles of the upper body and arms are also used in addition to the leg muscles. Overall, there is an optimal combination of endurance and strength training. Nordic Walking improves fitness even at low speeds and relieves muscle tension in the neck and shoulder region. The rhythmic leg movement also strengthens veins and arteries. And last but not least, as an endurance sport, Nordic Walking raises the pulse to a level at which optimal fat is burned, around 400 calories per hour.

South Tyrol, the hiking paradise, also offers an ideal environment for Nordic Walking. In principle, Nordic Walking can be practiced almost anywhere, but many holiday resorts already have their own routes or even entire Nordic Walking parks that allow for targeted training. Trainers are also available in almost all South Tyrolean holiday resorts. For beginners, it is highly recommended to learn Nordic Walking under the guidance of a qualified trainer, as only with the correct technique will this sport yield optimal results. However, even experienced walkers benefit significantly from regular supervision by a trainer.

In recent years, South Tyrol has invested a lot in this successful trend sport. There are now numerous special Nordic Walking parks, for example in Schenna, Naturns, Lüsen, Eppan, Villnöss, Latsch, at Reschenpass, in the Gitschberg-Jochtal holiday region, in the Tauferer Ahrntal, and at Kronplatz. These walking parks offer a whole network of different trails of all difficulty levels, where you can create your routes according to your training goals. In addition, the parks have highly qualified trainers who can work with you upon request. Of course, you will also find the corresponding hotels and accommodations here, which are tailored to the needs of walkers and offer courses or training supervision as well as complementary wellness programs.

Treat yourself and come to South Tyrol for Nordic Walking!