WINOOSKI, VT. (XXX) -- Exel Sports NA, fully owned subsidiary to Exel Oyj, a Finnish manufacturer and developer of composite consumer products including cross-country ski, alpine ski and Nordic Walking poles today announced it will be introduced at two Potomac River Running locations on Saturday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. in the Reston Town Center in Reston, and Sunday, March 25 at noon in Old Ashburn Square in Ashburn. Exel representatives will be on-site to conduct demonstrations and answer questions.  
As the original developers of Nordic Walking poles in Finland back in 1997, Exel has helped to increase the popularity and awareness of the sport as a whole.  Potomac River Running is a specialty running retailer who is on the leading edge of bringing this sport to market in the United States. Often described as "cross-country skiing without snow or skis? or "power walking with poles?, Nordic Walking has grown quickly to over six million participants worldwide. The sport is easy to learn, appropriate for anyone wishing to be/stay active and can be done just about anywhere.
"We are thrilled to start carrying the Exel Nordic Walking poles in our store(s), said Ray Pugsley, one the four family members who co-own Potomac River Running.  By providing the Nordic Walking poles, we can offer our customers a way to burn 20 to 46 percent more calories than ordinary walking. In addition, we can offer a great cross-training option that uses 90 percent of your muscles opposed to using only 60 percent while running.?
For more information, please visit  www.nordicwalker.com  or  www.exelsports.net  . Photos can be found at  www.exel.net/imagebank  User ID: exel, password: press.
For more information on training session locations, visit  www.potomacriverrunning.com  .

Exel Sports NA, Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of the parent company Exel Oyj, a Finnish corporation that specializes in composite technology. Exel Sports NA handles the marketing, sales, logistics and product development of Exel Oyj's consumer products (cross-country, alpine, trekking and Nordic Walking poles) in North America. The Group's 11 factories are located in Finland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Germany and the UK. International operations account for some 85 percent of the group's net sales, which were EUR 91 million in 2005. The Group employs 600 persons and its share is quoted on Helsinki Stock Exchange Main list.  Further information:  www.exelsports.net