Blog

Nordic walking is the ideal leisure sport. It burns more calories than walking and is relatively easy to learn. Nordic walking is suitable for everyone of any age and can be practised at any time of the year. You also save the cost of the gym and can get started right on your doorstep. In this article you will learn about seven good reasons Cape Town is ideal for Nordic walking.

Nordic Walking Cape Town – 7 good reasons

1. Weather conditions and seasons

In Cape Town, the summers are warm, dry and mostly clear; the winters are short, not very cold, partly cloudy, with some rain. Throughout the year, the temperature generally fluctuates between 9°C and 25°C, rarely falling below 5°C or rising above 30°C. With these weather conditions you have the opportunity for Nordic walking in Cape Town all year round.

2. Cape Town is the ideal environment

Cape Town is the ideal place to start your Nordic walking training. You have a variety of options in and around the city. You can go Nordic walking on the Sea Point Promenade, you can go for a walk on the beaches and you can also use Nordic walking poles in hilly landscapes. This variety gives you the opportunity to practise Nordic walking on different surfaces – on asphalt, on sandy soil and on forest soil. Sometimes you even have to overcome stones. This is good for your body, especially your muscles and joints, because they have to deal with different levels of resistance.

3. Low investment costs to start Nordic walking

To start with Nordic walking you don’t have high investment costs in terms of sports equipment and sportswear. Since everyone goes for a walk from time to time, most of us automatically already have the right clothes in our wardrobe.

Good-quality Nordic walking poles cost between 1800 ZAR and 4000 ZAR. Sometimes it’s worth waiting for special offers, as sports shops sell sporting goods cheaper at the end of the season. Another tip is to buy second-hand Nordic walking poles from private individuals. Sometimes you even get new Nordic walking poles because people bought the wrong length. This is your chance for a bargain so you can start Nordic walking in Cape Town.

4. You don’t have to stick to a schedule

While you have to follow a fixed schedule in a fitness centre or Pilates studio, with Nordic walking you are completely free with your schedule. You can go Nordic walking from the early hours of the morning until late in the evening and integrate it flexibly into your daily routine.

5. No running costs

If you have bought your Nordic poles and paid attention to good quality, you will have them for a long time. The cost of a fitness centre is already 1800 ZAR today, in a Pilates centre you can even pay over 4000 ZAR. These are costs that you pay monthly for years. If you buy high-quality Nordic walking poles, you buy them once and they will last for years. High-quality Nordic walking poles offer the possibility of exchanging the tips and the power grip. I’ve been using my Nordic walking poles two to three times a week for two years now and I haven’t had to change the tips or the power grip so far.

6. Connect activities – save time

If you go Nordic walking, you can easily combine your activities. You can start Nordic walking in the morning, meet up with your friends for coffee and then go shopping. If you buy telescopic Nordic walking poles, you can simply retract them. They will hardly bother you because they are small and light when retracted.

7. Nordic walking is a family sport

The good thing about Nordic walking is that it can be practised by young and old alike. This means that you can do this sport together with family members of any age or with your friends. Going Nordic walking in a group is safer and more enjoyable.

Those were seven good reasons why Cape Town is ideal for Nordic walking. I’m sure there are many more reasons, and if you think of anything, feel free to comment on this article. I hope you enjoy Nordic walking in Cape Town. Never forget: keep moving and stay healthy!

Kind regards Andrea

---

Learn more:

How to learn Nordic Walking?

FAQ – Nordic walking

When does Nordic walking feel good for you? Correct! When you master the technique with ease. Because then you walk efficiently, harmoniously, dynamically and without struggling. That’s why many people ask themselves: How to learn Nordic walking?

Here I will show you everything about the right Nordic walking technique and you can learn the basics quickly and safely in 10 easy steps. If you have read the article to the end, you will have the first answers to the question: How to learn Nordic walking? Once you get the hang of it, you walk technically clean and you benefit greatly from the positive effects of the perfect Nordic walking technique.

Before you start watch this:

How to learn Nordic walking? The 10 most important basic elements

Beginners in particular often rack their brains about how to start with Nordic Walking. But the good news is: Learning the individual basic elements of Nordic walking is not difficult with a little practice. The greater challenges for beginners only arise when the individual elements of the basic technique have to be coordinated. Here you will find a brief overview of the complete movement sequence in Nordic walking.

1. Diagonal movement

Nordic walking is based on normal walking, i.e. the opposite movement of arms and legs forwards and backwards. You move your left leg and your right arm or your right leg and your left arm forwards and backwards at the same time. If you master this coordination, then you are on the right path. But you don’t just move your arms and legs – your pelvic girdle actively rotates against your shoulder girdle.

2. Tilted torso

Your upper body is slightly tilted forward at the hips. You should neither lean your upper body too far back nor too far forward. You also raise your sternum to breathe easier and walk more upright. This gives your lungs enough room to breathe.

3. Look straight ahead

What I have noticed is that Nordic walking beginners in particular often look  on their feet to better coordinate their feet and legs. But your head should generally be level. You look straight ahead with your eyes.

4. Relaxed shoulders

Let your shoulders and arms hang relaxed on your body. Avoid lifting them spasmodically during the movement. The right shoulder rotates forward and backward simultaneously with the left hip and the left shoulder rotates with the right hip. The movements follow your normal body rhythm.

5. Bent knee

Always keep your front knee slightly bent. It should never be stretched out. By not straightening your knee, you avoid injuries and don’t slow yourself down.

6. Drawn toes

As you swing one leg forward, tuck your toes toward your shin. Your feet should point as straight forward as possible.

7. Flat heel attachment

You place each foot flat on the ground with the heel first. Then you perform the rolling movement over the outer edge, the ball of your foot and the big toe joint. Avoid landing too steeply with the heel or with the ball of the foot or midfoot.

8. Active arms

Your arm movements come from the shoulder joint and not from the elbow joint. With the arm movement you also determine the step length; the further your arms swing forward, the bigger steps you automatically walk. Avoid stretching your arms completely, always keep them slightly bent.

9. Opening and closing hands

It is also important that your hands do not permanently grasp the Nordic walking poles. You open your hands from hip height when swinging backwards and close them again from hip height when swinging forward. It’s a feeling like throwing the poles away behind you. Opening the hands is possible because high-quality Nordic walking poles have hand straps.

10. Poles close to body

Always keep the Nordic walking poles as close to your body as possible. Place them on the ground in the middle between the front and back feet.

After reading this, you already know the ten most important things to consider when it comes to Nordic walking. We will expand the website bit by bit with pictures and videos to make learning Nordic walking even easier for you. Until then, just have a look on YouTube to find out more about how to learn Nordic walking. There you will find great trainers and helpful explanations for your Nordic walking journey. Or you can book a course to learn how to practise Nordic walking. I wish you a lot of joy and success with it. Andrea

---

Learn more:

7 good reasons for Nordic walking in Cape Town

FAQ – Nordic walking