Wheelchair Push and Parasports Challenges

Choots76 said:

Sadly then, I was entirely let down to find that I am now removed from our family step challenge, and can no longer participate in any challenges or expeditions I wasn't already part of (albeit some of these have stopped counting activity).

Switching devices will not stop any of that. All that is in Garmin Connect and the device doesn't matter. 

Do you use the same Garmin account? You just add the new device to Garmin Connect and continue logging data. You should see both your old and new watch in Garmin Connect until you decide to remove the old watch. 

Thanks for your reply Andy, but unfortunately that's not the case.

The old device, while great, obviously recorded steps which were only ever a rough approximation of the number of pushes in the chair.  I've spent a good number of years comparing various branded devices along with my wife who is not in a wheelchair and has always had a Garmin, and even the instinct can be a good couple of thousand out by the end of a regular day.

By actively switching "wheelchair mode" on the new Venu 3. it physically removes the opportunity to join any of the challenges for January.  The ones I joined prior to adding the new device remain, but are no longer collecting data as they record steps and I am now recording pushes.  I can partially understand that, as they are not a direct correlation.  But I am unable to participate in distance challenges, which are, and the almost comic irony of not being able to join gym or cycling challenges despite having wheelchair specific weight training (from Adapt to Perform, so it was though about) and hand cycling included as activities on the watch.

This was the same with or without the old device still connected.

That is crazy. It will make it impossible to participate in any challenge that requires steps.

It is possible to turn off wheelchair mode in the user profile settings: User profile

That is a temporary fix to be able to participate in the challenges, but I think you need to contact Garmin Support to start a dicsussion with them about how it should be handled in the future. https://support.garmin.com/

It is pretty much what I said originally, a massive oversight by Garmin.  I get it, I work in tech so I understand the challenges, but the blunt tool approach of removing everything challenge related rather than anything step related seems heavy handed. Not to mention very disappointing when you spend £450.

I'll pick it up with Support, but I don't expect much given Garmin appear more intent on adding even more to their £1k+ model range.