Discover Nordic Walking
New to Nordic Walking or want to understand it better? Take NWANA’s free introductory course and discover the activity, equipment, basic movement principles, and opportunities for recreation, fitness, and sport.
The course is free. A free NWANA Academy account is required to enroll.
NWANA Nordic Walking Sport
Organized Nordic Walking Competition Across North America
NWANA Nordic Walking Sport is the competitive sport platform of the Nordic Walking Association of North America.
It connects athletes, competitions, rules, results, rankings, education, officials, organizers, teams, clubs, NW Groups, partners, sponsors, and supporters within one developing North American sport system.
Whether you are entering your first Nordic Walking competition or helping build the sport at a higher level, NWANA provides a clear place to begin.
Compete with NWANA
The NWANA Open Nordic Walking Series provides current competition opportunities through scheduled virtual events open to participants worldwide.
Athletes can:
- select an upcoming competition;
- register online;
- complete the published distance;
- submit the required evidence;
- receive an official result;
- follow standings and rankings;
- view recognized performances in the Winners Circle.
Each competition publishes its own distance, date or completion window, divisions, registration requirements, rules, and result-submission procedures.
The NWANA Competition System
NWANA is establishing an organized competition structure for:
- Stadium Competition;
- Road Competition;
- Cross-Country Competition;
- Relay Competition.
The system is designed to support progression from open, local, and club competition through state, provincial, regional, national, continental, and international levels.
These levels define the structure being developed. A particular competition or championship is confirmed only when NWANA publishes its official name, date, location or virtual format, registration, rules, and competition status.
Rules and Sport Standards
NWANA competition rules provide the common foundation for athlete eligibility, age divisions, equipment, technique, starts, course completion, conduct, judging, penalties, results, rankings, protests, virtual participation, and safety.
Every competition may also publish event-specific requirements based on its discipline, distance, course, format, audience, and operational conditions. Athletes and organizers are responsible for reviewing the rules issued for the particular competition.
Choose Your Role in the Sport
Nordic Walking sport needs more than competitors.
NWANA provides pathways for people who want to:
- compete as athletes;
- become instructors or coaches;
- become judges or technical officials;
- organize Nordic Walking competitions;
- build teams, clubs, or NW Groups;
- provide locations, technology, timing, media, or operational support;
- partner with or sponsor NWANA Sport;
- support the development of competitive Nordic Walking.
Review all available sport pathways before deciding where to begin. You may start in one role and expand into additional areas as your experience and involvement grow.
Build the Sport with NWANA
A complete competition system requires athletes, trained professionals, organizers, local communities, event infrastructure, technology, locations, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and financial support.
Organizations and individuals can help NWANA:
- expand competition opportunities;
- prepare instructors, coaches, judges, and organizers;
- support athlete participation and development;
- establish local and regional sport activity;
- improve event operations, timing, results, and rankings;
- provide awards, equipment, locations, and technology;
- bring Nordic Walking competition to more communities;
- increase public awareness of the sport.
Start Here
Choose the action that best matches what you want to do today.
