LEADERSHIP
One Conversation. One Flight. One Decision.
NWANA began with a telephone conversation at Riga Airport in November 2024.
Albert Fatikhov was preparing to leave Latvia for the United States. Before departure, he called the president of the Latvian Nordic Walking federation to say goodbye.
During that conversation, Albert learned that North America lacked a comparable structure dedicated to organizing and developing Nordic Walking as a sport.
The information stayed with him as he boarded the plane.
During the flight, a question became a decision:
If the structure does not yet exist, why not begin building it?
That decision became the foundation of the Nordic Walking Association of North America.
Building What an Athlete Expects to Find
Albert understood that a sport requires far more than enthusiasm.
An athlete needs a calendar.
A competition needs rules.
Rules need trained judges.
Officials need education and practical experience.
Results need consistent administration.
Communities need local organizations.
Instructors and coaches need progressive professional pathways.
Event organizers need technical and operational support.
Sponsors need a credible platform.
Host cities need lasting public value.
A continental championship needs all of these elements working together.
Albert began building the system piece by piece.
From an Idea to Operating Infrastructure
NWANA is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity developing Nordic Walking across North America.
Its growing system now connects several major directions.
Education
The NWANA Academy provides an entry point for new participants and progressive education for instructors, coaches, judges, Race Directors, and Competition Technical Officials.
Licensing
NWANA has established athlete, professional, individual, and organizational licensing pathways that connect participants with defined roles, education, standards, groups, and competitions.
Local Development
NWANA Nordic Walking Groups give communities and organizations a way to establish a local presence, receive a dedicated website, organize participants, accept registrations, communicate, conduct events, and grow toward formal recognition.
Competition
NWANA is developing rules, race formats, age divisions, results, rankings, officials, and the operational experience required for a continuing North American competition calendar.
Partnerships
NWANA works to connect municipalities, parks, schools, universities, healthcare and senior organizations, sports organizations, businesses, community leaders, sponsors, donors, and event professionals around practical Nordic Walking opportunities.
The Championship Crowns the System
Albert’s goal extends far beyond producing one successful event.
A serious championship must stand on a functioning foundation:
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people must first discover the sport;
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participants need a way to learn;
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communities need local groups;
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athletes need regular training and competition;
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officials need education and experience;
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regions need operating events;
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results need consistent administration;
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partners need a common platform.
This is why NWANA’s development pathway follows a deliberate sequence:
AwarenessLocal ActivationAcademy EducationNW GroupsRegular ParticipationRegional CompetitionsU.S. National ChampionshipsNorth American Continental ChampionshipsPermanent Community Legacy
Every stage strengthens the next.
Live Competition Across North America
The current NWANA series is creating active competitive opportunities and operational experience.
The next expansion is physical.
NWANA is developing a live competition structure capable of supporting:
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stadium and track races;
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road competitions;
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cross-country events;
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relays;
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local and regional races;
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recreational and competitive participation;
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youth, Open, and Masters divisions;
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national and continental titles.
This work requires trained officials, suitable venues, timing systems, medical and safety planning, event operators, sponsors, volunteers, host communities, and athlete participation.
NWANA is building these relationships now.
The North American Continental Championship
The inaugural North American Continental Nordic Walking Championships are being advanced as a collaboratively developed 2027–2028 initiative.
NWANA will work with the future host city and championship partners to determine the final location, calendar, scale, program, and permanent regional legacy.
The development process is intended to bring together:
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athletes and delegations from participating countries;
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a professional event operator;
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national and regional partners;
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judges and technical officials;
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host-city and tourism organizations;
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corporate sponsors;
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community participants;
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instructors and coaches;
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media and production partners;
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local volunteers and Nordic Walking Groups.
The championship platform may include elite races, age-group competition, relays, community events, demonstrations, professional education, partner exhibitions, ceremonies, and programs that introduce residents to Nordic Walking.
The final race will conclude the championship.
The local system created around it will continue.
Leadership Measured by What Remains
Albert’s vision of success includes more than medals, attendance, or media coverage.
A successful host region should retain:
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trained instructors and officials;
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active NWANA Nordic Walking Groups;
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experienced local organizers;
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relationships with parks, schools, health organizations, and community institutions;
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participants who continue after the event;
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venues capable of hosting future races;
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an annual local and regional calendar;
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a direct pathway into future national and continental competition.
That is the lasting value of the championship initiative.
An Invitation to Build Together
Albert welcomes partners ready to contribute to the formation of a new North American sport platform.
The need includes operating capacity, travel and relationship development, education, technology, local activation, live-event preparation, communications, host-city engagement, and championship planning.
Partners joining at this stage have an opportunity to help shape the system itself.
