Top Nordic Walking Coach Returning to the US

Master Coach's spring seminar series suited for instructors and beginning Nordic Walkers alike.

Two kinds of people register for Nordic Walking Certification Seminars: fitness instructors, trainers and other pros who want to add fitness walking with poles to the specialties that they are qualified to teach, and people like me who want to spend several intense and intensive hours to jumpstart or increase their own skills.

When I signed up for a basic course with Gottfried Kürmer (above), the European-trained head of the American Nordic Walking Association's certification program, it was to get my feet and arms and hands and legs and poles operating in correct and effective sync. As I wrote at that time, I never intended to teach but to get over my personal technical hurdle.

Kürmer is returning to the US in a few weeks and will be conducting three types of training sessions plus basic introductory classes:

• The Basic Instructor Certification course like the one that I took last year is scheduled either for one afternoon and one morning, or for one full day, including both indoor classroom and outdoor practice components.
  
• The only ANWA Nordic Walking Advanced Instructor Certification Seminar in the US during the first half of this year is available to those pros who have passed their Basic Instructor Certification.
  
• In each location, he will also lead a Nordic Walking Guide program. This is not as technical as the instructor session but is directed at people who want to lead group walks without really teaching technique. All three levels include appropriate training materials.
  
• As a real bonus, Kürmer is also leading a basic introductory class for true-blue beginners at each venue. This is the rare opportunity for newcomers to take their first Nordic Walking steps under a master coach of that level.

Basic Instructor Certification Courses, Nordic Walking Guide Workshops and Introductory Classes

March 29-30, Los Angeles
April 18-19, Minneapolis/St.Paul
April 26-27, Denver (Aurora)
April 29 - Middletown, NJ
April 30 - New York (Central Park)
May 3-4, Chicago (Schaumburg)

Advanced Instructor Certification Seminar

Also, the only ANWA Nordic Walking Advanced Instructor Certification Seminar in the US during the first half of this year will be offered in St. Paul, April 19-20. If this suits your schedule, you can check with ANWA or with SweatShop Fitness, the host of the advanced training program. BTW, last summer this gym last summer offered Nordic Walking intro programs, so if you know someone in the Twin Cities area who doesn't catch Kürmer when he is in town but remains curious about Nordic Walking, direct him or her to the SweatShop.


What It Costs

Complete daily program schedules for each venue and registration are available on the ANWA website. The basic certification program is $295 through March 15 and $355 from March 16. The advanced certification course is $375 through March 15 and $450 from March 16. Those who pass the certification exam are eligible to purchase top-quality poles at a discount. ANWA members get a 20 percent discount, and you can also join the organization online. The Nordic Walking Guide workshop costs $149 and includes poles that are yours to keep. Introductory Classes are just $25.