The Apple Watch continues its mission to become the most versatile fitness trackers around, with Apple today introducing the ability for Apple Watch Series 3 wearers to track detailed information about both snowboarding and skiing runs.
Skiers and snowboarders running watchOS 4.2 can now use their Apple wearable to measure these activities, via new updates to apps available in the App Store. Users can record runs, see vertical descent and other stats, and contribute active calorie measurements directly to the Apple Watch Activity app.
There’s no fitness like snow fitness
“Having the ability to track the details of runs with Apple Watch is an incredible asset for everyone from training athletes to skiers and riders just looking to have fun and stay active,” said Jonny Moseley, Olympic Moguls Gold Medalist and Squaw Alpine Mountain Ambassador, in a statement. “The Squaw Alpine app for Apple Watch helps me when I’m out with my family to not only track exactly where my kids are on the mountain, but also compare our performance, so I can make sure I’m keeping up with my sons and add some fun competition to our day.”
The updated apps taking advantage of the new features include Slopes, snoww, Squaw Alpine, Snocru, and Ski Tracks. Each app offers slightly different functionality in terms of the metrics it will track for you. The updated Slopes app tracks speed, vertical, distance, and lift vs. trail time; snoww provides run stats and milestones; Squaw Alpine lists trails and chairlifts ridden that day, and so on. You can check the updated release notes for each app for more details.
Snowboarding and skiing data will now go toward completing a user’s Activity rings. Workout information can also be recorded to the Health app on iPhone with user permission. Slopes and snoww even let you use Siri to start tracking your run with a simple voice command!
Apple says that additional apps will be taking advantage of the new snow sports features offered in watchOS in the near future.
