I am currently involved in the Global Corporate Challenge where teams record the number of steps they take each day using a pedometer. It focuses mainly on walking but you can use other sites to convert sporting activities into steps by multiplying the minutes spent in the activity by points listed (depending on the intensity of the sport)An example is this:
Pedometer%20Step%20Equivalents%20for%20Exercises%20and%20Activities.html
I find the points awarded for windsurfing to be very unrealistic.
eg
Lacrosse - 242
Lawn bowling, shuffleboard - 91
Lawn mowing -power mower - 152
Martial arts - 303
Minature golf - 91
Punching bag - 182
Raking lawn and leaves - 121
Raquetball - 212
Roller skating - 212
Rowing machine - 212
Rowing machine, vigorous - 258
Rugby - 303
Running - 5 mph - 12 minute miles - 242
Running - 6 mph - 10 minute miles - 303
Running - 7 mph - 8.5 minute miles - 348
Running - 8 mph - 7.5 minute miles - 409
Sailing, boat and board, windsurfing - 91
Scuba diving - 212
Shopping - 70
Sitting - 30
Skateboarding - 152

I know the 2 hours + I spent today in 25 to 32knts in Rye chop tires me out more than 2 hours of miniature golf.
I assume they are thinking of beginner windsurfing on a 190 litre board in 6knts.
Anyone know of a realistic conversion chart for energy used (preferably in steps) for full on windsurfing?

My son has a pedometer watch and it counts every time you go over a piece of chop while windsurfing, as a step. That adds up to a lot in a session. You may not need a conversion, just wear the pedometer if it is waterproof.

I think it's too hard, there's too much variation depending on conditions and the kind of sailing you're doing.

And sorry Anita, but I don't think a pedometer counting chop is much of an indication of energy expended.

On dead flat water in 15 to 20knots I can do 300+ kms in a day. In very choppy water, 30 to 35kts I'm lucky to do a tenth of that.
A light wind, non planning wavesailing session will last about 2 hrs.
If you're just nicely powered in flat water, and steady wind, so everything is light and effortless, and you're making all your gybes, there's not much energy being expended. Maybe the 91 isn't all that far off the mark, although I'd have still put it above mini golf.
Certainly in gusty conditions where you go from underpowered, having to hold the rig up, to overpowered hanging on for dear life, trying to stop the board throwing you off. You can use a lot more energy.
And looking at the "flicky spinny" exponents doing their thing, it looks like they are actually working.

What about using a heart rate monitor and comparing an hour of sailing against walking.

I wonder if your heart picks up while catapulting or stops to brace for the landing?

Like the idea of the heart rate monitor to do my own rating. I'm a Science teacher so that suggestion should have come from me. Looks like Im in the market for a monitor to go with my Suunto.

Windsurfing you burn about 500 to 1000 calories per hour depending on the workout intensity.
Brisk walking you burn about 400 calories per hour.

From a overall benefits point of view Windsurfing apparently is the better form of exercise as it works more muscle groups.

Either way I certainly know I'd rather windsurf for 30 minutes then go running.

I'll bet my BSc in physiology that there's no such thing as a "step energy equivalent". There's no such thing as a standard step. And if you think there is, I'll race you over 100 steps, yours can be up a staircase and mine will be on a flat road. The GCC doesn't even allow a conversion between a run step and a walked step http://support.gettheworldmoving.com/hc/en-us/articles/203546385-Is-there-a-conversion-for-running- I put it to you that steps are meaningless in terms of energy expenditure.

Given sailing, (both on boards or boats), is essentially just standing or sitting, 91 as an average seems fair. Most sailers and windsurfers can sail easily for hours so obviously it can't be that taxing.

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MikeyS said..
I'll bet my BSc in physiology that there's no such thing as a "step energy equivalent". There's no such thing as a standard step. And if you think there is, I'll race you over 100 steps, yours can be up a staircase and mine will be on a flat road. The GCC doesn't even allow a conversion between a run step and a walked step http://support.gettheworldmoving.com/hc/en-us/articles/203546385-Is-there-a-conversion-for-running- I put it to you that steps are meaningless in terms of energy expenditure.

The aim of GCC is to get people off their chairs and moving around. Steps are very easy for people to grasp as a unit of measurement for 'activity'. It's always going to be a compromise between being accurate, making it accessible and keeping the cost down. The focus is on minimising the amount of desk time and increasing non-exercise physical activity. This is a wellness program, not a fitness program.

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Freddofrog said..
Given sailing, (both on boards or boats), is essentially just standing or sitting, 91 as an average seems fair. Most sailers and windsurfers can sail easily for hours so obviously it can't be that taxing.

Depends on how good you are. I'm farked after 2 hours... and am a wreck that night.

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7tim said...

MikeyS said..
I'll bet my BSc in physiology that there's no such thing as a "step energy equivalent". There's no such thing as a standard step. And if you think there is, I'll race you over 100 steps, yours can be up a staircase and mine will be on a flat road. The GCC doesn't even allow a conversion between a run step and a walked step http://support.gettheworldmoving.com/hc/en-us/articles/203546385-Is-there-a-conversion-for-running- I put it to you that steps are meaningless in terms of energy expenditure.

The aim of GCC is to get people off their chairs and moving around. Steps are very easy for people to grasp as a unit of measurement for 'activity'. It's always going to be a compromise between being accurate, making it accessible and keeping the cost down. The focus is on minimising the amount of desk time and increasing non-exercise physical activity. This is a wellness program, not a fitness program.

Then why do you get 30 points for "sitting"? Or perhaps that's a typo.

Typo. Prob meant to be ****ting..that can involve energy expenditure

Looks to me that some numpty has lumped in sailing, where you sit on your butt steering and occasionally pulling a rope, with windsurfing simply because they both involve a sail.

This gives a better summary I think.

www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fitness-benefits-of-windsurfing/

In particular "Burn ALOT of Calories: Expert windsurfers burn up to 1000 calories per hour, and recreational windsurfers burn around 500 calories an hour."

I never ceased to be amazed by the number and variety of gadgets available to us. Want to know how fast your heart beats? In fact, do you want to know if your heart still beats? How many steps you tortuously put yourself through? How fast are you by the GPS?

I thought the most obvious sign to anyone who had been out windsurfing for a few hours is that he/she is too tired to get up from the couch. A solid week of hard windsurfing will see his/she spare tires around the waist melting away. That, folks, is the most obvious indicator that a hell of a lot of calories were burnt.

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stehsegler said..
Windsurfing you burn about 500 to 1000 calories per hour depending on the workout intensity.
Brisk walking you burn about 400 calories per hour.

From a overall benefits point of view Windsurfing apparently is the better form of exercise as it works more muscle groups.

Either way I certainly know I'd rather windsurf for 30 minutes then go running.

This is what I recorded:
I stepped on the scale in the morning 102.5kg .

Three hours of Winter sailing. Frequent waterstarting, cold water, raining non-stop...
Then a big dinner followed by a half a bottle of wine....

Stepped on the scale next morning 99.8kg.

I think the combo of cold weather/water and frequent waterstarting takes a lot of energy.
But holding onto a gear for a few miles will cause some muscle burn too.

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tazmania said..
Looks to me that some numpty has lumped in sailing, where you sit on your butt steering and occasionally pulling a rope, with windsurfing simply because they both involve a sail.

This gives a better summary I think.

www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fitness-benefits-of-windsurfing/

In particular "Burn ALOT of Calories: Expert windsurfers burn up to 1000 calories per hour, and recreational windsurfers burn around 500 calories an hour."

I'm not sure I rate this all that high, this quote says it all.

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Doesn’t Feel Like Exercise: Travelling up to 20 miles per hour on your windsurf is so exhilarating you hardly know you’re exercising.This means you’re likely to stick at it for longer and burn up more calories than in the gym.
(According to the Royal Yachting Association the average windsurfer spends up to six hours each day exercising without even realising it!)

UP to 20mph??????? Where is he coming from, or how long ago was it written?
A windsurfer has just cracked over 60mph and we/they have been going over 35mph for ages.
I think this lacks scientific rigour.

Just watched Sean's speed sailing vid, 1981 at Weymoth, somebody hit 28mph, mind blowing stuff on those old no cam triangle sails.
And yes those guys were working, no doubt about that!

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Obelix said..

This is what I recorded:
I stepped on the scale in the morning 102.5kg .

Three hours of Winter sailing. Frequent waterstarting, cold water, raining non-stop...
Then a big dinner followed by a half a bottle of wine....

Stepped on the scale next morning 99.8kg.

Might be time for new batteries in those scales.

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tazmania said..
Looks to me that some numpty has lumped in sailing, where you sit on your butt steering and occasionally pulling a rope, with windsurfing simply because they both involve a sail.

This gives a better summary I think.

www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fitness-benefits-of-windsurfing/

In particular "Burn ALOT of Calories: Expert windsurfers burn up to 1000 calories per hour, and recreational windsurfers burn around 500 calories an hour."

NO wonder I can eat lots of crappy food ( choc etc ) and still lose weight after a session..Love this sport...

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tazmania said...
Looks to me that some numpty has lumped in sailing, where you sit on your butt steering and occasionally pulling a rope, with windsurfing simply because they both involve a sail.

This gives a better summary I think.

www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fitness-benefits-of-windsurfing/

In particular "Burn ALOT of Calories: Expert windsurfers burn up to 1000 calories per hour, and recreational windsurfers burn around 500 calories an hour."

Ever sailed a Hobie 14 or something similar in open waters 20-25kt?. You do a bit more that sit on your butt occasionally pulling a rope. But is a good point you make. Categorising these activities doesn't really take account of the variety of conditions and challenges.