How can I track surfing with my Charge 4?

[lwagen]

Please share if you have a suggestion for the best exercise setting when surfing with the Charge 4.  Thanks

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

Hello @lwagen and welcome to the Help forums.  Pay no attention to the fact that the Outdoor Workout icon shows someone walking with a backpack.  The Outdoor Workout is GPS connected and is designed for things like kayaking, paddle boarding, downhill skiing, and surfing.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Welcome to the Community, @lwagen and @LZeeW, thanks for the input.

I was able to see here that our friend @LZeeW provided instructions about your activity inquiry. Was this the answer you were looking for? If it was, I recommend marking the answer given as the best answer. By doing this, other users with the same inquiry will be able to find a faster response.

Now, if your inquiry/issue wasn’t resolved, let me know and I will be glad to help you out.

[lwagen]

Thanks for your reply

[AlejandraFitbit]

Thanks for getting back, @lwagen.

I am glad to see here that our friend's reply helped and that you marked the response as best answer. If there is anything else we can help you with, do not hesitate to post it.

Happy stepping!

[Pdc5067]

I also would like to use the built in gps to track my surfing with the Charge 4. I have been using the outdoor workout setting but the gps seems to disconnect as soon as I get in the water. Any help with why this disconnects? 

[SeanBoyo]

Hi, I switched on the outdoor option on my charge 5 and surfed for an hour and a half today but it seems to have counted my steps as well. I was walking at times in shallower waters alright but the step count was very high even for that, what am I doing wrong here? 

[LiamMac]

Steps are detected by the Fitbit devices courtesy of a 3 axis accelerometer (and not via GPS as a lot of people assume). I'm assuming that during surfing your arms are basically in constant motion... therefore your device tracks 'steps' because of this.

I get this 'feature' too when vigorously cleaning, as well as when I play guitar (even though I'm not a thrash/death metal merchant!! And lots of other people have said they also get the same when they play piano). It's the extended period of time which the accelerometer is providing data to the device which makes the device assume you're locomoting yourself via your feet

[BillJ99x]

I get thousands of steps when driving off-road. Each and every bumb registers as a step. So registering paddling as a steps wouldn't surprise me at all.

As far as the GPS goes, makes sure the GPS setting is 'Built in GPS' on the tracker. Note that this mode eats the battery. Make sure the tracker is fully charged and even then the battery will only last a couple of hours.