Surfr 4 is the biggest Garmin update we have ever shipped: one app for 85 watch models, with Surfr account pairing, Downwinder mode, live broadcasting, Friend Alarm, kite selection from your synced quiver and six configurable stat slots on the recording screen.
This article explains what is free, what needs Surfr Plus or PRO, and how to keep riding for free with The Surfr. App - Legacy.
What's free, what's paid
Plan | What you get on the watch |
Free | Speed mode recording on every watch, no subscription needed, plus 5 free trial sessions of the full experience to start with. |
Surfr Plus | Big Air - jump recording with live heights on the watch ¹ and the full jump details of your Garmin sessions in the Surfr app. |
Surfr PRO | Everything in Plus, plus Downwinder mode on the watch, all PRO features in the Surfr app (Insights, 3D jumps, cinematic replay) and upcoming PRO watch features. Surfr Plus riders get 3 downwinder sessions to try before Downwinder asks for PRO. |
¹ Watches that can't show live jump heights (Surfr.AI units and the Basic — speed & GPS only — models) are never asked to subscribe as they record free on any plan. See the Garmin Compatibility List — Surfr 4.0.
💡 The 5 free trial sessions are one shared pool across your watches — Apple Watch, Wear OS and Garmin. Only sessions that actually record jumps use one: a false start, a quick test or a Speed run never costs a trial session. After a save, the watch shows how many you have left.
Big Air needs your watch linked to your Surfr account. You have 14 days from first use to pair it (Menu → Surfr Account). Speed recording never needs pairing.
✅ Already on Plus or PRO? Nothing to do. Your subscription carries over automatically and unlocks the watch when your account syncs.
Prefer not to pay? The Surfr. App - Legacy
The previous Garmin app stays available as a separate, free download: The Surfr. App - Legacy.
Big Air recording with jump heights needs no subscription there, exactly as you're used to.
It does not get any of the new Surfr 4 features.
It stays supported for the next 1–2 years.
It is also the app for the models Surfr 4 doesn't run on (Instinct 2, 2S, 2X, Instinct Crossover, Descent G1 and Forerunner 245) — on those watches Surfr 4 shows a short notice pointing here.
👉 Get it at thesurfr.app/garminlegacy — it installs from the Connect IQ store like any Garmin app.
Common questions
"Why is Surfr 4 not free?"
The new app is a much bigger product than the old one. Account pairing, spot and gear sync, Downwinder, live broadcasting, Friend Alarm. Speed recording needs no subscription, and you get 5 full sessions to try everything. Your subscription is what allows our small team of passionate kitesurfers to keep building.
"My watch says it can't show live heights. Do I need to pay?"
No. Watches that can't produce live heights aren't asked to subscribe, they record free. See why some watches don't support live jump heights.
"I already pay for PRO."
Nothing changes. Your PRO carries over automatically when the app updates.
"What happens to the Legacy app?"
It stays supported for the next 1–2 years. It will not get new features.
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