The NWANA Federation Hub connects athletes, instructors, NW Groups, event organizers, sponsors, partners, and supporters to the main systems of the Nordic Walking Association of North America.

Use this page to find the right pathway: challenges, competitions, licenses, NW Groups, academy training, events, results, support funds, partnerships, and sponsorship opportunities.

Challenges are the easiest way to begin participating with NWANA.

Join virtual, weekly, monthly, or community-based Nordic Walking, walking, and running challenges. Challenges help people stay active, submit activity, build participation, and connect with the larger NWANA pathway.

Walking and running participants are welcome in open participation categories. Official NWANA Nordic Walking rankings and championship standings are scored separately.

NWANA competitions are the structured sport pathway for Nordic Walking in North America.

This area connects participants to official categories, stages, event formats, competition rules, future standings, and the broader NWANA Competition Series.

Walkers and runners are welcome to participate. Official NWANA Nordic Walking rankings are reserved for Nordic Walking divisions.

Results and standings help NWANA build an organized competition pathway.

This area will connect participants to event results, challenge results, series standings, rankings, and future competition records as the system develops.

Walkers and runners are welcome to participate. Official NWANA Nordic Walking rankings are reserved for Nordic Walking divisions.

NWANA licenses recognize official roles within the sport system.

Licenses may include athletes, instructors, NW Group leaders, event directors, judges, officials, and other approved roles. NWANA licenses are role-based credentials, not general membership.

NW Groups help people organize Nordic Walking locally.

A group may begin as a walking community, training group, city group, wellness group, or local Nordic Walking activity group. NW Groups help create the local base for instruction, participation, events, and long-term sport growth.

Umbrella NW Groups help companies, organizations, schools, municipalities, and large community networks organize multiple Nordic Walking groups under one shared structure.

An umbrella group may include departments, offices, regional teams, employee wellness groups, school groups, club chapters, or community partners. This allows a larger organization to support participation, fundraising, challenges, events, and local leadership while keeping its groups connected under one visible NWANA pathway.

Participants can also help start an Umbrella NW Group by bringing the idea to an employer, school, club, city office, wellness program, or community organization.

NW Academy prepares the people who build Nordic Walking locally and regionally.

Training pathways may include instructors, coaches, judges, leaders, staff, event organizers, and other development roles needed to grow the sport responsibly.

NWANA events bring people, organizations, sponsors, and communities together beyond regular challenges and competitions.

Events may include forums, conferences, galas, awards, clinics, workshops, fundraising events, partner gatherings, sponsor activities, and community programs that support the growth of Nordic Walking across North America.

These events help NWANA build relationships, raise funds, educate leaders, recognize achievement, and create new opportunities for participation, partnerships, and long-term sport development.

Support NWANA’s work to grow Nordic Walking across North America.

NWANA funds may support instructor development, event development, NW Groups, community programs, competition growth, and the infrastructure needed for long-term sport development.

NWANA works with organizations that can help build Nordic Walking participation, education, events, health programs, and community access.

Partners may include municipalities, health and wellness organizations, senior programs, schools, universities, race management companies, timing companies, community groups, and sport organizations.

Sponsors help NWANA grow visibility, participation, instructor training, events, NW Groups, and competition development.

Sponsorship opportunities may connect to challenges, competitions, events, growth funds, corporate wellness, umbrella fundraising teams, and community impact programs.

NWANA is building the people, groups, events, standards, and systems needed for Nordic Walking to grow as an organized sport and public-benefit movement across North America.

Start with the pathway that fits your role today.