Apple Watch Series 3 Can Now Track Skiing and Snowboarding Activity

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced that skiers and snowboarders can use Apple Watch Series 3 to track their activities starting today.

Apple Watch apps snoww, Slopes, Squaw Alpine, Snocru, and Ski Tracks have each been updated to take advantage of custom workout APIs released in watchOS 4.2 that enable tracking of specialized metrics:
[*]Total vertical descent and horizontal distance
[*]Number of runs
[*]Average and maximum speeds
[*]Total time spent
[*]Calories burned
While not all of this information is available in the Activity or Workout apps at this time, some of the apps do have integrations. Ski Tracks, for example, features 17 different snow workouts that can earn credit towards Activity rings, while Snocru contributes active calorie measurements to the Activity app.

The ski and snowboard tracking is limited to Apple Watch Series 3 models, which are the only ones with a built-in altimeter to track elevation. TechCrunch's Katie Roof shared a closer look at some of the updated apps, which are now available on the App Store and require watchOS 4.2 or later.

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3 Can Now Track Skiing and Snowboarding Activity

 

[Glmnet1]

And one more reason why I want this thing even though I really don't need it and would probably get bored of it after a while...

 

[jav6454]

Series 2, any love for it?

 

[TCMercury]

So for those of us without Series 3 watches, is there any indication that the tracking could use the phone's altimeter (I kind of assume it has one but now I'm not sure) instead?

 

[magicschoolbus]

Awesome. I have a fitbit, but now that the Apple watch is becoming more and more functional, I may have to pick one up down the road. I will probably wait until next series though.

 

[nfl46]

This watch keeps getting better and better.

 

[cknibbs]

And one more reason why I want this thing even though I really don't need it and would probably get bored of it after a while...

It’s not an entertainment device?

I find my Apple Watch (Series 0) gets most of its use from Apple Pay, complications like the weather/messages, notifications, telling the time (lol). It’s great for at a glance info, and for encouraging me to leave my phone in my room so it doesn’t distract me from my kids while still making sure I don’t miss important notifications (I have most notifications turned off).

 

[theAuthenticBlackfrog]

Series 2, any love for it?

Series 3 only, because of the altimeter? Annoying. Altitude can be determined w/ GPS. Just a ploy to push upgrades? Booo.

 

[chiefsilverback]

Nice update, just in time for the end of the season (on the east coast)!

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Timely upgrade, now that winter is almost over in the northern hemisphere...

 

[swingerofbirch]

The intersection of people who ski and want to quantify their life seems like it must be extraordinarily miniscule.

Maybe about the same as the number who used the Ski Weather Report widget in Dashboard.

 

[oftheheavens]

Nice update, just in time for the end of the season (on the east coast)!

I was just thinking "dude really, right as the temps turn to like friggin 50-70"?!? MD and PA aren't getting very nice conditions after January. I would have bought a S3 at the beginning of the season if this was available. Oh well lets hope for a new form factor (that uses same bands) for next season!

 

[ghostface147]

Hmmm..refurb Series 3 or a Series 4 in the fall? Also, I feel bad for the buyers of their Series 0 gold watches for 10k since it's so outdated now. But they have disposable income, so they may not even notice it.

 

[japanime]

Now if only the Nike+ Run Club app would work properly on the Nike+ Apple Watch.

 

[QuarterSwede]

And one more reason why I want this thing even though I really don't need it and would probably get bored of it after a while...

I don't know. It's still my favorite electronic device. It's so useful constantly that it's surprising. I can triage all my notifications on my wrist without pulling my phone out. I can decline the massive amount of robocalls that have gotten cleverer recently. The complications are immensely useful (quick access to messages, mail, weather, my shopping list, etc). It's really the swiss army knife of electronic devices and well worth the money.

 

[panjandrum]

Now that's a feature I would like. Too bad I absolutely can't stand wearing a wrist-watch. I'm waiting for the Apple-Pocket-Watch!

For those who want this type of thing but don't have an Apple Watch, I've been using the app "Ski Tracks" for years on iPhones. It seems to work well.

 

[citysnaps]

Series 3 only, because of the altimeter? Annoying. Altitude can be determined w/ GPS. Just a ploy to push upgrades? Booo.

Perhaps some are not willing to tolerate potential elevation inaccuracies of ±20 meters (assuming decent signal/satellite alignment).

 

[chiefsilverback]

I was just thinking "dude really, right as the temps turn to like friggin 50-70"?!? MD and PA aren't getting very nice conditions after January. I would have bought a S3 at the beginning of the season if this was available. Oh well lets hope for a new form factor (that uses same bands) for next season!

I'm in NH, my local mountain was pretty slushy on Monday afternoon, but they're still making snow at night. Was hoping for a dump this weekend, but looks like it's going to be rain now!

 

[gotluck]

similar tracking doesnt apply to surfing eh? max ride speed, ride distance etc? should be able to differentiate from paddling?

 

[lunarworks]

The intersection of people who ski and want to quantify their life seems like it must be extraordinarily miniscule.

Maybe about the same as the number who used the Ski Weather Report widget in Dashboard.

Yup. No one cares about run times and stuff.

 

[magicschoolbus]

I'm in NH, my local mountain was pretty slushy on Monday afternoon, but they're still making snow at night. Was hoping for a dump this weekend, but looks like it's going to be rain now!

Nice, I ride PA, NY and VT regularly. I've always wanted to hit Loon in NH. Good to know they are still making snow up there.

There's always spring riding!

 

[SevenSeas]

Siri “good job falling down a mountain, shall I call ski patrol?”

 

[cuwickliffe]

A few days too late. My interest in seeing me skiing and snowboarding on a professional level peaked earlier this month and now I have the skiing and snowboarding ability and interest of a fat chihuahua.

#olympics

 

[Phone Junky]

Siri “good job falling down a mountain, shall I call ski patrol?”

You're giving Siri way too much credit.

 

[cuwickliffe]

Siri “good job falling down a mountain, shall I call ski patrol?”

"Here are some websites on ski poles."