Nordic walking/hill bounding clinic

The Northfield Area Family YMCA and Northfield Rotary are teamming up to help local residents get the most from their uphill climbs.

A nordic walking/hill bounding clinic is set for Saturday, Aug. 20, at Buntrock Commons, on the campus of St. Olaf College.

Nordic walking uses poles for a full-body outdoor exercise for people of all ages. The poles equalize stress across the body, reducing the impact on lower joints.

Hill bounding builds on the benefits of nordic walking. It is an activity used by Nordic skiers for off-season training.

Jessie Diggins, a competitive skier who recently graduated from Stillwater High School, will lead the clinic. She also will speak about her victory at the United States Nordic Senior Nationals and her participation in the Nordic World Cup and Nordic World Championship in Oslo, Norway during a buffet lunch that is included as part of the clinic fee.

Part of the Northfield Rotary's inspiration in supporting Diggins is to help gather support from this area so she can afford to compete in Europe and do well at future events leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sechi, Russia.

The clinic is a day-long event. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by a youth walking/bounding seminar – for youngsters in grades kindergarten to 12 – from 10 o'clock to noon, and lunch in the Kings Room at Buntrock Commons at noon. Then, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., there will be an adult walking/bounding seminar and a kids nature walk.

Equipment for the clinic will be provided.

Cost of the clinic is $50 for adults, or $60 the day of the event; and $5 for youths, or $10 the day of the event.

Participants can register at www.northfieldymca.org.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the YMCA will not turn anyone away from its membership or programs because of an inability to pay. Contact the Y about scholarship information.

Information: 507-645-0088 or www.northfieldymca.org.