But to the Finnish native, it's not about the snow, especially in a place that had its last "major" snowfall -- 2 1/2 inches -- nearly two years ago.
It's about the ski poles, which Mustonen and others say add intensity to walking workouts and are a great tool for becoming fit.
Taking a page from his Nordic countrymen, Mustonen is trying to get others in the United States interested in the European practice of skiwalking, also known as Nordic walking.
"Slowly, people are getting involved with it," said Mustonen, president of Skiwalk Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., which organizes the local walking group and sells ski poles. "The reaction basically is, 'Who is this crazy person?' But once you explain it to them, then they say, 'Oh, really? That makes sense.'"
The poles used by ski walkers are similar to those found on ski slopes -- they are made of aluminum, fiberglass or ultralight carbon fiber. Skiwalking poles, however, typically have rubber tips so walkers can use them on hard surfaces such as streets or sidewalks. Some skiwalking poles telescope so they can be easily taken on trips.
