"Where's the snow?" people ask me when I'm out walking with my poles. It's a valid question, as it looks like I'm cross country skiing, but I left my skis (and the snow!) behind.

Nordic Walking started almost a century ago as off-season training for Nordic skiers. It really caught on in Finland in the 1990s, and now, word (and poles) are beginning to cross the Atlantic to reach all the way out here to Colorado.

Using specially designed poles, Nordic Walking increases cardiovascular efficiency and adds an upper body workout for walkers. Caloric output goes up by as much as 40 percent when the poles are added.

View a video of the sport, and schedule an individual training session.