NWANA is building a structured competition pathway for Nordic Walking across North America.

The goal is to help Nordic Walking grow from local participation and community events into organized stages, regional series, official results, rankings, and future championship-style competitions.

Some NWANA events may also welcome walkers and runners through open or community participation options. Official NWANA Nordic Walking rankings and championship standings are reserved for Nordic Walking divisions.

Competition Pathway

NWANA competitions are designed to grow step by step.

The pathway may include local starts, community run/walk events with Nordic Walking divisions, weekly or monthly stages, city and state series, regional series, national series, and future North American championship events.

How the System Can Grow

NWANA’s competition model may include:

• local Nordic Walking starts
• 1K, 2K, 3K, 5K, and other distance formats
• weekly and monthly stages
• city, state, regional, national, and continental series
• open community participation options
• official Nordic Walking divisions
• age, gender, license, and category-based results
• series standings and future rankings
• annual finals and championship-style events

Community Run/Walk + Nordic Walking Championship Model

NWANA may work with race directors, timing companies, municipalities, clubs, schools, and community organizations to add official Nordic Walking starts or divisions inside broader community run/walk events.

This model allows large public events to welcome many walkers and runners while creating a clear official pathway for Nordic Walking participants.

For Athletes

Competition gives Nordic Walking participants a pathway to train, enter events, compare results, earn recognition, join rankings, and represent their city, state, region, club, or team.

For Organizers and Timing Partners

NWANA is interested in working with race organizers, timing companies, event directors, municipalities, and community partners who want to help create organized Nordic Walking opportunities.

Future competition development may include event standards, timing support, result formats, categories, series scoring, and local event pathways.

For Sponsors

Competition creates visible opportunities for sponsors to support active communities, health, sport development, local events, teams, rankings, and future championships.

Sponsors may support individual events, stages, series, teams, or broader NWANA competition development.

Current Status

NWANA is currently building the foundation for this competition pathway through challenges, groups, licensing, academy development, event planning, results systems, and partnerships.