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Michigan is home to some of the best cross-country & downhill skiing and snowboarding in the Midwest. All month on Absolute Michigan, we'll be featuring all aspects of Michigan skiing with profiles of regions, resorts and trails along with a mountain of photos, video and information about the history and present day skiing experience in Michigan. As always, if you have a link to add, post it in the comments or send us an email!
The OFFICIAL Directory of Skiing in Michigan offers a comprehensive list of the places to ski, snowboard and otherwise get from the top of the hill to the bottom. The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association is dedicated to increasing awareness of snowsports in Michigan and introducing new individuals to skiing and snowboarding, and has some great deals to check out. Weather Underground Ski Michigan offers up-to-date snow conditions for all the resorts in Michigan. Michigan Skier can give you all the latest news on skiing in Michigan, as well as info on everything you need to know about skiing in Michigan. You'll also want to drop by SkiMichigan.com.
If Nordic Skiing is your thing, Michigan Nordic Racer offers regularly updated trail reports from all over the state. The Great Lakes Nordic Council has some more info for Michigan. If you're feeling competitive, how about training for the Michigan Cup Series, the Michigan Tech Christmas Classic (Dec 15-16, 2007 in Houghton), White Pine Stampede (Feb 2, 2008 in Mancelona), the North American VASA (Feb 9, 2008 in Traverse City).
Of course, you don't need to compete to enjoy cross country skiing. In fact, you don't even need snow for Nordic Walking from Michigan-based SkiWalking.com. In addition to great opportunities at Michigan's national, state and local parks, check out the cross country skiing guide from Travel Michigan. You don't even need to let challenges stand in your way of enjoying to snow: Michigan Ski for Light is a non-profit organization promoting cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities for the visually- and mobility-impaired.
If you want to keep on eye on the conditions at the slopes, check out this list of Michigan ski resort webcams from SkiCentral and another at Snow Eye. While we don't have too many photos of skiing in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr, we're hoping to see a lot more as people get out and enjoy the skiing. Michigan in Pictures has a few ski photos including this feature on Boyne founder Everett Kircher. On the Snow offers a few photos from Michigan ski resorts and Lars Jensen has some great photos from cross-country skiing at the Pictured Rocks and other locations.
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Nordic Walking Poles Radically Improve Balance & Stability – A Huge Aid For Those With Balance Issues Including MS, Parkinson’s And Neuropathy (NO Longer Just For Athletes & Expert Skiers!)
Over six million Europeans are Nordic Walking every day (all ages and all fitness levels). This amazing new fitness activity turbo charges the normal walking campaign. Not only does Nordic Walking burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking, it automatically improves walking posture and helps to reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Utilizing the correct length poles encourages improved walking posture, while the poles and your arms absorb an impressive amount of the shock that would typically hit the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is ideal for athletes, kids, adults of all ages and even folks with balance issues - including MS, Parkinson's or Neuropathy.
Three years ago I launched SKIWALKING.COM and right away received hundreds of thank you emails and thank you cards from happy customers - including folks with bad/new knees, bad/new hips, back problems and balance issues. One lady called me during the fall of 2004 and asked if the poles would help improve her balance problems stemming from an inner ear issue. I told her I wasn’t sure, but I did share with her several impressive success stories from folks with knee, hip and/or back problems. By using the correct length poles she was able to navigate even the roughest terrain with balance and security provided by the poles. She has been successfully using my Swix VIP Nordic Walking Poles for over two years now.
While hosting Nordic Walking at The Fitness Center in Traverse City, Michigan I was introduced to Michelle Honer. Michelle had signed up to participate in one of my Ski Walking Classes. When she walked up the handicap ramp prior to the class with her cane it was apparent that she had some balance issues and she informed her classmates that she had MS. Our 1st Ski Walk was only a few blocks down and back. Within several weeks we were covering about 2 miles in one hour.
For seven prior years Michelle had ridden an electric scooter in the Traverse City MS Walk. The last couple years Michelle has Ski Walked the 5K (3.1 miles). Local newspapers and TV stations have covered her remarkable story.
"My special Nordic Walking poles have allowed me to walk taller, faster, further and with much more stability than with my cane. Their one-piece design is so much better than my old adjustable poles that broke unexpectedly at an extremely inconvenient time,†says Michelle.
Michelle is now an official Ski Walking Ambassador for SKIWALKING.COM and proudly wears her Ski Walking Shirt made of organic cotton while assisting at many of my Nordic Walking Clinics.
Michelle’s success with the walking poles encouraged me to host free Nordic Walking Clinics at MS Support Group meetings. She suggested that I also contact the Jimmie Heuga Center in Colorado. The Heuga Center is dedicated to helping those with MS lead healthier and happier lives.
I receive thank you letters and emails everyday from super happy customers. Here are a couple wonderful examples:
I just returned from a 14-day trip to London and Ireland. I was able to do almost everything using my Nordic Ski Walking Poles or "walking sticks" as they call them in England and Ireland. I could not have considered this trip without my "walking sticks" and I am grateful for them. I hope all Parkinson's patients will be able make use of " walking sticks".
Again, thanks for making my once in a lifetime adventure a reality.
Jean
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We've been Ski Walking everyday, I was truly amazed at watching Linda, if didn't know that she has MS and the related gate problems that most MS patients have, I would not have believed it! She walks "normal" what ever that is? Your poles are great!
Howard
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My husband bought me your poles for my birthday last week. I LOVE them. I have MS and walk with a slight limp and my balance is off sometimes. I am now walking in the park at a brisk walk every day for about 1 1/2 miles. Thank you so much. They make a big difference in my walking. I told him they are the best birthday present he has ever bought me. Thanks again.
Peggy
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Sounds like magic, but it is just good physics. The key is using "perfect length" poles.
Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.
I recommend quality one-piece poles that won’t collapse unexpectedly. One-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles. Adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles should NEVER be recommended for anyone with a balance issue. Hundreds of backpackers have tumbled when their telescoping poles unexpectedly collapsed, causing severe injuries.
According to Nick Mahood, SWIX USA Nordic Walking Director, "Pete Edwards, SKIWALKING.COM's owner/founder/coach, has single handedly introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking through his enthusiastic clinics! I have no doubt that Edwards is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the USA! You can quote me on that!"
About the Author
Pete Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers of all ages and fitness levels for over 25 years. Edwards is a former ski school director, running coach, personal trainer and the owner/founder of The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM Nordic Walking Poles, headquartered in Glen Arbor, Michigan. Edwards has coached State Champions (individuals + teams), All-Americans and National Champions. He has also introduced Nordic Walking to 1000’s of Americans through Nordic Walking clinics, radio interviews, newspaper interviews and TV interviews. He has skied in 50K marathons and run 26.2 miles marathons. His skiers have been hill bounding and ski walking with poles for years in the summer when deprived of snow. Hosting Nordic Walking clinics is extremely rewarding for Edwards and he especially enjoys hosting Nordic Walking clinics for MS and Parkinson’s support groups.
For more information, pictures, info on how to get started and how to buy – please contact http://WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and The American Nordic Walking System
email: getfit@skiwalking.com
toll free #: 877-SKIWALKING (877-754-9255)
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