Walk a mile in a Scandinavian's shoes

Rosalind Duane

newsroom@nsnews.com

 

A Scandinavian sport has become the latest import to the North Shore thanks to two North Vancouver women who have set up a poling company.

Poling is a sport that combines walking with cross-country skiing by incorporating the use of specially-designed poles to provide added aerobic benefit. About a year ago Erin Engstrom and Mandy Shintani started Nordic Poling to market the activity to outdoor enthusiasts in Canada. Engstrom spent 10 years in Sweden working for a marketing company before returning to North Vancouver in 2002. While living in Sweden, Engstrom saw that poling was a huge sport there.

"Everyone does it," she said of the sport that she then introduced to Shintani when she got back to Canada.

Shintani, an occupational therapist, recognized the physical benefits of the sport and the two decided that it would be particularly suited to Vancouver residents, who they said, already spend a lot of time outdoors.

Shintani described poling as a form of urban walking that is suitable for malls, trails or sea walks. She explained that the benefits include enhanced cardio - with the added movement of swinging arms - and resistance from striking the poles to the ground.

The partners said that poling is 40 per cent more effective than walking due to the arm movement. Engstrom added that since it is difficult to talk when running, groups may enjoy poling as an alternative as the low-impact style allows for easy conversation. She said that fact may encourage walkers to stay out walking longer than if they were running. Shintani also said the poling exercise produces less stress on joints, and is suitable for some walkers who may have soft-tissue injuries since the use of the poles helps take some of the weight off the lower body.

Before taking their product to consumers, the partners spent a year researching the feasibility of bringing poling to a Canadian market. They also had to find a pole distributor.

"We looked at a lot of different manufacturers," said Engstrom. They decided to go with Exerstrider Fitness Poles, located in the United States because the company "made the best pole."

Some of the features of the pole include a lip on top so that the pole hangs on the wrist and polers don't have to grasp it. This is especially helpful for seniors who may have trouble maintaining a tight grip on the handle. The pair also explained that some poles offered by other manufacturers feature a Velcro glove at the top of the handle. However, Engstrom and Shintani said they decided against such a model because they thought the glove would be awkward for some users, especially seniors, and may be a safety issue if a walker needed to free their hands to cushion a fall. Shintani said the handle on the Nordic poles is ergonomically designed for the sport. The pole also has a rubber foot on the bottom to prevent sliding. The foot can be removed to reveal a point suitable for walking in icy conditions. Some models also come with a basket that fits over the end for walking on snow. Shintani explained that the poles they distribute absorb more vibration than a regular ski pole, and that helps when walking on hard surfaces like asphalt. Engstrom said the movement used with the poles is a natural progression from walking movements and incorporates some aspects of power walking.

"We would like it to grow into a national sport recognized as an option," said Shintani. She added that it is a great sport for almost everyone because it is low impact, doesn't need a lot of preparation and doesn't require any training.

As part of their promotion plan, the Nordic Poling partners are currently demonstrating their product to various groups including seniors walking groups. The poles start at $114, and come with a free instructional video. Nordic Poling operates as an online business and can be contacted by sending an e-mail to nordicpoling@ telus.net, or by calling the following toll free number: 1-877-499-7999.

 

Published in: North Shore News. January 31, 2005

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