Apple Shares Video on How Pro Surfers Use Apple Watch During Competition

[MacRumors]

Apple today shared a video showing off the Apple Watch in use at the World Surf League Championship Tour, with surfers describing how they use the watch when competing.

Surfers can be hundreds of meters away from the beach during competitions and can't hear announcements over the sound of the water and the wind. The World Surf League has adopted the Apple Watch to solve the problem, linking the device to the scoring system. Surfers can get up-to-date information right on the watch.

"I know what it was like competing without this piece of technology," said professional surfer Lakey Peterson. "There's nothing more frustrating than being in a competitive heat without this piece of technology."

The Apple Watch makes sure surfers know how much time is left in a heat, who has priority, and what the score is. The watch is updated in real time, with surfer Isabella Nichols calling the information "crucial" to the outcome in a competition. Mateus Herdy said the watch vibrates when priority changes, so competitors don't even have to look at the screen.

"The Apple Watch has become part of our equipment," said Nichols. "It's like a surfboard or rashie."

The World Surf League hasn't lost an Apple Watch despite the intense conditions surfers put the device through. Surfers have worn the watch at dangerous surfing spots like Pipeline in Hawaii and Teahupo'o in Tahiti, and it has come out unscathed.

The video appears to be part of a new "Apple at Play" series. Apple previously had a partnership with the World Surf League, and the 2021 and 2022 championship tours were shown on Apple TV in the "Make or Break" docuseries.

Article Link: Apple Shares Video on How Pro Surfers Use Apple Watch During Competition

 

[CarAnalogy]

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…

 

[Johnny907]

Was this filmed before they all found out their Ultra 1’s were obsolete according to Apple?

 

[Johnny907]

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…

Right? Changing the activation of workouts from just tapping the icon to now having to tap the tiny little Play circle perfectly is just the dumbest change that Apple feels perfectly comfortable with despite the complaints.

 

[Jarman74]

Here we go again. Apple is back to showcasing extreme use cases of Apple Watch Ultra, while I’m just here awaiting the Couch Potato video featuring the no-less-challenging World Sofa League.

 

[Octavius8]

If only steps and heart rate could be easily tracked during the day at a glance, without so many clicks.

 

[jbachandouris]

I’d be happy if stand would actually work right. Time to stand up? Either I’ve already stood and sat multiple times or I’m already standing. AW software getting worse not better.

 

[JosephAW]

It would be interesting to see their opinion about Apple dropping support for the first generation watch ultra. 🙄

 

[Radeon85]

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…

It’s fixed in 27 at long last. On my Ultra 3 in all 26 versions, when I received a new notification, if I swiped down, the clear all button would not work some of the time. I had to swipe or press the crown to clear it; once I swiped down again, the clear all button worked fine.

Bloody nuisance that was introduced in 26 and never fixed, even in the 26.5 update. So far, on 27 B1 the clear all button now works the first time every time.

 

[ronno]

Do screen interactions work at all with wet fingers?

 

[terrapinjess]

I have no clue how using AW’s touch screen in a watery environment is worth touting. Even just washing my face, if there is a mere droplet of water on my screen, touches do not register or require multiple taps. Sweaty fingers after a run, same thing.
I am running an Ultra 3 and I can’t wait until my new Garmin comes in and I can replace it. Every few years I try to get back into Apple Watch and it consistently lets me down (battery, weight, touch screen usability, lack of actual useful watch faces (watch hands literally completely covering complications, etc.)
I understand it’s all different use cases but for me, I can’t justify keeping mine as my daily watch.

 

[Taq'aix]

This AD is BS.

 

[jole]

Do screen interactions work at all with wet fingers?

Guessing from the video: They have a custom app that requires no interactions at all and stays on all the time. A bit like diving apps on Apple watch.

Anyone-knows if there is API for that: locking the screen to show one custom app 100% of the time — no timeouts, notifications, ...?

 

[Slix]

This video really kinda blew my mind because I have no idea how a surfing competition works or most of the phrases they used, but it's cool to see the technology advance to a point where it's useful for things like this where nothing really worked well before like they said.

 

[surfzen21]

But does it show them trying to tap things on their version 26 watches and the taps just not doing anything until the second try? That’s what a video of me using my watch would show.

Maybe they’ll fix that in 27. Sure hope those surfers weren’t using a first generation Ultra…

As someone who surfs or used to surf with my Ultra 1 (RIP software updates) I can say its almost impossible to click around cause the water interferes with taping on the screen.

Although, most of the time the water lock is engaged to prevent unwanted tapping.

I think the WSL has their own app that displays all the necessary metrics on the screen so you dont have to click around. I think its always shows the combined heat score, the time remaining in the heat and who has priority.

 

[Macalway]

Deleted

 

[Carrspasty]

Next time I'm out on the seafront in Morecambe, doing a double pike or whatever they call it, I'll make sure I strap a Polaroid camera to my foot and catch similar action. Well worth spending the £000's for the watch no one ever uses like this !

 

[jole]

Anyone-knows if there is API for that: locking the screen to show one custom app 100% of the time — no timeouts, notifications, ...?

I guess this is a combination of:

• workout app privileges
• Always-On display support
• Return-to-App behavior
• Water Lock
• LTE for streaming updates

 

[mnewby]

I have no clue how using AW’s touch screen in a watery environment is worth touting. Even just washing my face, if there is a mere droplet of water on my screen, touches do not register or require multiple taps. Sweaty fingers after a run, same thing.
I am running an Ultra 3 and I can’t wait until my new Garmin comes in and I can replace it. Every few years I try to get back into Apple Watch and it consistently lets me down (battery, weight, touch screen usability, lack of actual useful watch faces (watch hands literally completely covering complications, etc.)
I understand it’s all different use cases but for me, I can’t justify keeping mine as my daily watch.

In the rain it's hopeless. They need an option to allow apps to use the side buttons when the screen is water locked. Then I could pause / start the timer in the rain. Perhaps I upgrade to garmin.

 

[mnewby]

I guess this is a combination of:

• workout app privileges
• Always-On display support
• Return-to-App behavior
• Water Lock
• LTE for streaming updates

Could be one of those apps where Apple actually got involved so they could showcase the use.

 

[subjonas]

I have no clue how using AW’s touch screen in a watery environment is worth touting. Even just washing my face, if there is a mere droplet of water on my screen, touches do not register or require multiple taps. Sweaty fingers after a run, same thing.

They may make use of the finger double tap and wrist flick gestures, and the action button if they have an Ultra.

 

[StuBeck]

Do screen interactions work at all with wet fingers?

No, but this is about displaying a screen which wouldn't turn off. Its fairly straightforward and could be done by any device, but thats true of most advertising.

 

[svish]

Interesting video. I personally do not have a need for this. Happy with my Series 10.

 

[Attirex]

Eddie would go.......using his apple watch?

 

[subjonas]

In the rain it's hopeless. They need an option to allow apps to use the side buttons when the screen is water locked. Then I could pause / start the timer in the rain. Perhaps I upgrade to garmin.

You can use the double tap gesture to pause unpause the timer when the timer app is open. You can also get to the timer app by double clicking the crown to view recent apps, then scrolling the crown to the timer app which will automatically open after you've stopped scrolling for a moment. So no touch screen required. Alternatively you could open the timer app by doing the double tap gesture to enter Smart Stack, then double tapping to scroll to the timer app, but then you have to tap on the screen on the timer card to open it (although I think Apple is introducing a single tap gesture which may mean you can open the card with a gesture).