Suunto Race open water swimming GPS problem

[Mechanicus]

Hi everyone.Im not sure that it is the right place for the question…I am a new user of the Race. I have been using the Garmin watches all my life, but I liked the Race elegant disign and decided to buy one. For now Ive tried to use them for 4 month. My main sport is open water swimming and for now the watch totally useles as the GPS does not work correct at all. I know the reccomendation to put the watch under the swim cap or inside the bouy …but in this case the watch measured only the distance…and I do not have any others information…I cant check even the time that I spend in the water during the swimming without stop
Do you have the same GPS problem? Any solution?

[Egika]

@Mechanicus just wear the watch normally on your arm, then you can check all your data during the swim.
Maybe you can share a little more about the way you are using the watch (sport mode used, swim style, watch position, button operation etc.)

For proper GPS track and distance it is important to

• have the watch acquire GPS position before entering the water
• use a swimming style, that has the watch raised above the surface for some time (freestyle works, breast stroke does not work)

I am a mediocre swimmer but have been getting great GPS tracks and stats from Race, Race S and Vertical. See here:
https://forum.suunto.com/post/164581

[Mechanicus]

@Egika Yes , it is clear: put the watch on the hand and swim…but the GPS does not record the distance/speed correct…During the bike riding the GPS works correct.
Yes, I know that it can be the swimming technic problem, but I have hade tried some of my frands-they used there Garmin on one hand and my Race on other-the difference was more than one km…So I do not think that it can be the technic problem.
About the watch using: At the beginning of a workout, I sync the watch with the SUUNTO app, do a warm-up on the beach, select “swimming,” wait for the GPS to turn green, wait a little, turn on the set, wait a little outside the water, then get in and start swimming.

[Mechanicus]

Hi
Does anyone have the same GPS open water record
problem?

[RobinJ]

Hi @Mechanicus, i experience the same openwater problems. I bought the Race late oktober 2024 and i was very happy with the Race as it was almost spot-on with the other watches in my group (mostly Garmin). A lot better than de S7 which i had before which always added an extra 10% on every swim.
During wintertime we stayed in the pool (which is okay with the Race as long as you don’t stop during a lane)
But…when we started outdoor swimming in the beginning of april 2025 all my results are terrible. On a 2K5 swim the watch added at least 500 meters.
Last week my Race is exchanged for a new one because the screen was burnt-in after only 6 months in use (very disapointing, even de S7 was beter in that way)
This morning (with the new watch) a 3K1 swim (all Garmins say) but Race made a “fantastic” 4K8 (!) out of it.
ps this was in “endurance” mode, but all other swims in 2025 were in best possible mode

You would allmost think has anyting to do with the latest fw update