The idea for the Sisu Grip pole was born by chance during an everyday conversation with a neighbor in a parking lot. Inventor Fredrik Serlachius learned how Nordic walking had once been an enjoyable way to exercise, but a wrist injury had made it impossible to continue with traditional poles.

This sparked the idea of a pole with a flexible handle - one that would absorb impact and make walking more comfortable.

The first prototype immediately felt natural in use, but the next step was to determine whether the invention had real potential. An expert opinion would be crucial.

Fredrik Serlachius was advised to reach out to Tuomo Jantunen - one of the key figures in the development of Nordic walking and a strong advocate of traditional poles.

Encouraged by the recommendation, Serlachius contacted Jantunen, who initially found the invitation amusing but agreed to a meeting.

As one of the first experts to test the Sisu Grip pole, Jantunen approached it with curiosity but a hint of skepticism. He took the poles in his hands and set off, walking with steady yet confident steps.

He walked about a hundred meters away, turned back, and continued in the other direction. His expression remained serious, and he didn’t say a word as he passed Fredrik for the first time.

The tension grew - was there anything special about this invention?

Finally, Jantunen stopped, and a wide smile spread across his face. He said:

"You have just given Nordic walking its own identity and removed the age-old question that always comes with it—where are the skis?"

Jantunen was immediately excited about the invention and recognized its potential.
He believed that the Sisu Grip pole could attract new enthusiasts to the sport and make the walking experience even more enjoyable.

Fredrik Serlachius began searching for an expert who could help develop his invention into a finished product. At the same time, he initiated the patenting process to ensure its protection.
Through previous inventions, he had become acquainted with entrepreneur and product developer Jouko Rahikka, who turned out to be the perfect person for the task.

Jouko recognized the value of the invention and the new possibilities it could bring to pole walking.
He saw its greatest advantages in comfort, natural walking technique, and the built-in spring system that propels the walker forward.
As product development progressed, Rahikka founded Sisu Grip Ltd. and continued researching materials.
The development process involved extensive testing of different material options and manufacturing methods, until everything finally fell into place.

In the final stages of development, Jouko’s son, Antti Rahikka, joined the team, having previously worked with his father in another company.
Since Antti lives in Switzerland, it was only natural to establish a second company early on to serve the European market.
Antti and his wife, Stefanie Rahikka, founded Sisu Grip Schweiz GmbH, focusing on sales and marketing alongside further product development.

Now, we are ready to take pole walking into a new era – from Finland to the world!