Slovakia
Slovakia
How Nordic Walking came to Slovakia
At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, Nordic Walking comes to Slovakia in the form of practicing individuals and the first groups of Nordic Walking enthusiasts are emerging.
Lucia Okoličányová
founder of SNWA
In 2018 the SNWA President obtained (as the fifth person in the world) the trainer certificate of the World Academy of Modern Nordic Walking (WMNWA) and became the director of the Modern Nordic Walking Academy in Slovakia and published the book Moderný NW (Modern NW), the first complex Nordic Walking guide both in the Slovak and Czech language versions.
In 2019 the SNWA became member of the International Council of Nordic Walking (ICNW) and all its instructors were retrained as instructors of the World Modern Nordic Walking Academy (WMNWA).
Since 2021 the SNWA has been providing post Covid lessons (2 hour long lessons).
Since 2022 the SNWA has been organizing History NW Tour, when castles, mansions and other sights are visited using Nordic Walking pose.
In December 2022 the SNWA president became director and the national trainer of Modern Nordic Walking Academy (WMNWA) Czech Republic.
The Slovak Nordic Walking Association (SNWA) was established in March 2013
The Slovak Nordic walking Association (SNWA) was established in March 2013 as an association systematically supporting and promoting Nordic Walking in Slovakia.
In May 2013, the first Nordic walking centre was established at Štrbské pleso in the High Tatras and in June the Slovak Nordic Walking Association organized the first Slovakian championship in Nordic Walking. Shortly after that event, the SNWA representatives started to cooperate with the Slovak Olympic Committee and to deliver lectures at professional congresses and seminars.
The SNWA continually trains the instructors in Slovakia and a new Nordic Walking clubs are created under the umbrella of the SNWA. In October 2013, the SNWA officials represented Slovakia for the first time in history at the World Congress of the International Nordic Federation in Gdansk (Poland). In June 2014, the 2nd Slovakian Nordic Walking Championship was organized the High Tatra mountains which was open for foreign participants as well.
In July 2014, the SNWA got accredited at the Slovak Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport, as the sole training centre for Nordic Walking in Slovakia.
The SNWA president has, as the only person in Slovakia, the highest education in Nordic walking certified by INWA (national trainer) and by ICNW (trainer of the Academy of Modern Nordic Walking).
Between 2015 a 2016 the SNWA organized a series of Slovak Nordic Walking Tour competitions – a scored competition in Nordic Walking and an all-year competition of the most active walker (which is still active).
Since 2015 the SNWA closely cooperates with Dr. R. Smíšek and with the SPS system (a physical therapy system developed by Dr. Smíšek).
Since 2016 the SNWA copoperates with the international scientific research organization – ICNW.
In 2017 the SNWA got accredited at the Slovak Chamber of Physical Therapists for a credit-based education.