Data Field: Surf Tracker

[FONT=Arial Black]Surf Tracker[/FONT]

Version 1.20
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/ded87d46-5477-4ca7-a247-847b896393e0

Track your surfing sessions in real time! This data field estimates the number of waves ridden using a speed and time threshold to mark the start and end of a wave ride.

Info shown (from left to right):

  • your total number of waves ridden and the total wave ride time (min:sec)
  • for your latest wave ride: wave ride time (seconds), maximum speed during the wave ride (km/hr or mph) and the distance covered (meters or yards)
  • the numbers in red show the maximum values for the wave ride time, speed and distance during the activity
  • For square watches, the bottom line shows the time of day and elapsed time of the activity. For round watches and the Vivo HR, the top line shows the time of day and the bottom line shows the elapsed time.




Notes:

1) This data field must be used in a 1-field data screen and should be set up before starting the activity. I use an Activity > Other > Paddle, but any activity with GPS ON should work. Open water swim will work but the GPS tracks are noisier since the sampling rate is lower, but it may be the better option for surfing when your arm is in and out of the water. Some activities smooth the speed data more than others and will give less accurate results (eg. a walking activity will not work as well as paddling or cycling). Vivoactive users try the Cycling activity, the Run activity will smooth the speed values to much to even out the Pace and this won't work well with the wave detection.

2) The summary stats and a speed plot are saved to Garmin Connect once the Activity is ended and saved:


3) This has been tested many times with standup paddle surfing. It has taken a while to get the thresholds working accurately. The detection thresholds can be changed using the Garmin Connect Mobile app (see https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?332843-How-to-App-Settings for help):

There are four settings to mark a wave ride based on speed, time and distance.


An event starts when the speed is >= 9 kph, it must last at least 6 seconds (above 9kph) and have a max speed of at least 13 kph to be counted. The event ends when it falls below 9kph. The min distance is set to 0m, but this can be changed to avoid false detections. These thresholds work well for standup paddle surfing, but try changing them and post your results. It should work for: standup paddle surfing, surfing, kayak surf, surf ski and maybe standup paddle downwinding.

Threshold ranges and defaults:
1) Start/stop threshold: default 9kph, range 5-50 kph
2) Time threshold: default 6s, range 2-60s
3) Max speed in event has to be >= 13kph, range 0-50kph
4) Min distance: default 0m (disabled), range 0-1000m

Typical values:
Standup paddle surfing: general setting for all waves
9kph, 6s, 13kph, 0m

Standup paddle downwinding (Hood River)
10kph, 10s, 12kph, 20m

4) The stats from each wave ride can be saved to a text file using the instructions at the bottom of the page (advanced users only, unsupported).

----------------- Planned Updates------------------

1) none hopefully


----------------- Version History ------------------

0.2 datafield now updates even when not visible.

0.3 added min distance to threshold test (now min 9km/hr for 5s and 15 m) to avoid paddling out/false wave counts, especially for SUP (eventually these values will be user selectable).

0.4 more tweaks after on-water tests (now min 9km/hr for 6sec), 19 waves and only 2 false readings and that was when I was chucked over the falls...

0.5 changed totdist and elapsed time to use the last good point of the event, instead of first one below the threshold, since when falling in it might take a while to get gps fix again and this will add to the waveride time. This should only decrease the wave ride time. The threshold test is now: >= 9km/hr for >= 6 sec and maxspeed >= 13 km/hr, redesign screen, add total wave ride time in min:sec

0.6 add fenix support.

0.7 bug fixed- crash when data field is in view and GPS just becomes active

0.8 D2Bravo, Epix and Vivoactive (separate app) support, compile using SDK 1.1.4. Latest numbers are green during an event (shows green if above speed threshold, even if below time threshold).

v0.9 new SDK 1.2.1, support for fr230/fr235

v0.95 new SDK, 2.1.3, support for Vivoactive HR

v1.0 added GCM settings for thresholds, changed distance calculation (should be shorter and more accurate), added 1 field Vivoactive support (got rid of the separate version)

v1.20 Garmin Connect summary stats and wave speed plot output
_________
** Advanced user only+unsupported method to save each wave ride to a text file on your device:

Place a *.TXT file in the /GARMIN/APPS/LOGS folder on your device, where * is the name of the .PRG file in the /GARMIN/APPS folder. Look for a file that is ~12 kilobytes. On my device it is 69SI5820.PRG, so I would create an empty file in /GARMIN/APPS/LOGS/69SI5820.TXT

To find out the filename, uninstall Surf Tracker, make a note of the *.PRG files in the /GARMIN/APPS folder, install Surf Tracker then note which PRG file is new.

Sample output format:
Wave# TimeofDay WaveRideTime(sec) WaveRideMaxSpeed(kph) WaveRideDistance(m)
1 07:26 20 28.8 113.4
2 07:28 13 27.6 76.8
3 07:33 21 30.2 122.2

Copy the file to your computer after a few sessions. I copy and paste the details into the notes section of the activity on Garmin Connect. The file will be appended to until it gets too big (10KB), then it will be overwritten. I had 3 days of sessions saved and it was only 1.8KB.
  • Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I meant that I am unable to set the screen layout to one field. However, I just followed your advice and got it changed on my Fenix 3. :D

    For the actual waves, I have been wearing my Fenix on the outside of my wetsuit. I did this mainly as I wasn't sure that I could get a GPS signal under my wetsuit (and gloves). I went out again today and saw that I had recorded 16 waves. What are the settings to determine what is counted as a wave? What speed to you need to go over? and I wonder if I am running into some issue with units (i.e. Meters vs Feet).
  • VivoActive version...

    Hello, congratulations for this app!
    I 'm french and I practice SUP , I make course 20-40 km , if you plan to develop a VivoActive version that interested in more than one ...
    I expect this version to test...
    thanks in advance
  • surf tracker for vivoactive

    hello i'm using vivoactive model
    Is the application surf is on développement for the vivoactive ? It would be great!!
    Thanks in advance from France ;0)
  • HI guys, i just bought my fenix3 today

    Hi everybody, i just bought the fenix3 today , it's my first garmin watch and smartwatch at all! and i was trying to install the surf traker but after i have install it on the fenix 3 i can't manage to see it, also following the sugggestion to create a new app.. paddleboard etc.. please could you help me driving me step by step:?!

    thanks in advance
    best regards

    Gianluca
  • installation problem

    Hi everybody, i just bought the fienix3 today , it's my first garmin wathc and smartwatch at all! and i was trying to install the surf traker but after i have install it on the fenix 3 i can't manage to see it, also following the sugggestion to create a new app.. paddleboard etc.. please could you help me driving me step by step:?!

    thanks in advance
    best regards

    Gianluca
  • Vivoactive APP

    Not yet, but I can add Epix support. For the Vivoactive I will have to make a separate app. I tried to add it to the main program but I get out of memory errors. So Epix and Vivoactive support coming soon.


    Hello bwd1.

    Did you developp the app for vivoative model ? You think it will be possible to do it?

    Best regards
  • Vivoactive: not developed yet, but yes it should be possible. I will try to get it finished over the next week or two...
  • Surf Tracker Installation prob on Fenix 3

    Hi all,
    I am stoked to use this app and I think I have downloaded properly but I don't know how to see on the watch and incorporate into the paddle activity. I could also use a step by step as I am new to this watch. I want to compare with the Ripcurl GPS watch.

    Thanks for any advice.
  • Installation question on new Fenix 3?

    Hi all,
    I am stoked to use this app and I think I have downloaded properly but I don't know how to see on the watch and incorporate into the paddle activity. I could also use a step by step as I am new to this watch. I want to compare with the Ripcurl GPS watch.

    Sorry for the novice question here.

    Thanks for any advice.
  • if you have a 920 I can explain, but that's the only watch I have. Just add a 1 field data screen and add the Connect IQ app BigWaveDave to it. Make sure you are on the latest firmware. Maybe someone else can explain it better, or read the manual ;)