Can you Skateboard in the Rain in 2024?
Can you Skateboard in the Rain? However, there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to stay safe and have fun. Skateboarding is one of those activities that’s just as much about the setting as it is the actual act.
There’s something about rolling around on a board with four wheels that just screams summertime. But what about when the weather takes a turn for the worse? Is it still possible to enjoy skateboarding when the rain comes pouring down? As it turns out, skateboarding in the rain can be a lot of fun – as long as you take a few precautions.
Can you Skateboard in the Rain?
First, make sure you have the right gear. You’ll want to wear waterproof clothes and shoes, and you may even want to invest in a rainproof skateboard deck. You’ll also need to be extra careful about slippery surfaces, so watch out for puddles and water on the ground.
Second, take it easy at first. When skateboarding in the rain, it’s important to start slow and be cautious. Once you get a feel for how your board reacts on wet surfaces, you can start going faster and doing tricks. Just be sure to stay aware of your surroundings and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Here are some disadvantages of Skating in the Rain:
Why You Should Never Ride Your Skateboard If It’s Wet Or Raining
1. Your Deck Can Warp And Get Waterlogged
If you ride your skateboard in the rain or on wet ground, there’s a good chance that your deck can warp and become waterlogged. This is because water expands when it’s exposed to air and heat, and this expansion puts pressure on your deck’s surface. As a result, your deck can start to bow and warp, which will affect your ability to ride it properly.
2. Your Wheels Can Slip
Another reason why you shouldn’t ride your skateboard in the rain is that your wheels can slip. This is especially true if you’re riding on wet pavement or wet leaves. When your best power sliding wheels slip, it’s easy to lose control of your skateboard and fall.
Skateboard wheels are harder than longboard and cruiser wheels, the large soft wheels. And while longboard wheels have an easier time dealing with wet conditions, skateboard wheels do not.
3. You Can Damage Your Bearings
Riding your skateboard in the rain can also damage your bearings. This is because water can get into your bearings and cause them to rust. Once your bearings start to rust, they will be less effective and will need to be replaced.
If the inner housing and ball bearings have oxidized and rusted, it’s necessary to replace them. In case they have been exposed to a little water or rain and are sticking, you can try to revive them. However, there’s a possibility that they may seize, in which case, a new set is required.
4. You Can Get Electrocuted
Believe it or not, you can also get electrocuted if you ride your skateboard in the rain. This is because water is a conductor of electricity, and if you happen to hit a puddle that has been electrified, you could be in for a shock.
5. You Could Get Sick
Riding your skateboard in the rain can also make you sick. This is because wet weather conditions are ideal for the spread of diseases and viruses. So if you ride your board in the rain, you could end up getting sick.
6. You Could Ruin Your Skateboard
Riding your skateboard in the rain can also ruin your board. This is because water can damage the wood of your deck, and it can also cause your wheels to rust. So if you ride in the rain, you could end up ruining your skateboard.
7. You Could Get Hurt
Finally, riding your skateboard in the rain can also put you at risk for injury. This is because wet conditions make it easy to slip and fall, and if you fall off your board, you could end up getting hurt.
When surfaces are wet, it can greatly decrease the amount of grip between the wheels and the ground. This can make it challenging to stay in control of your movements and increases the chances of slips, falls, and collisions. These accidents can range from small bruises to more serious injuries like sprains or fractures.
8. Your Grip Tape Can Become Slippery And Peel
When you skate in the rain, or if your skateboard deck gets wet for any reason, your grip tape can start to lose its stickiness. If you don’t dry it off quickly, your grip tape can become slippery and peel away from your deck.
9. Reduced Skate Performance:
If you allow rainwater to accumulate on skating surfaces, it can hurt your skating performance. The moisture can penetrate the bearings and wheels, resulting in rusting or faster wear and tear.
This can cause a decrease in your speed and maneuverability, ultimately affecting your Skating Performance in the Rain. In addition, water can accelerate the wear of the deck’s grip tape, making it more difficult to maintain proper foot positioning. Therefore, it is important to keep skating surfaces dry to ensure optimal skating conditions.
Unfavorable Weather Conditions:
When you skate in the rain, it can damage the surface you’re skating on and expose you to unpleasant weather conditions, and may cause Skating Rain Uncomfortable. Rain can make it hard to see obstacles or changes in the terrain, and wet clothing and gear can cause discomfort and health problems like hypothermia, especially in colder areas.
What To Do If And When Your Skateboard Gets Wet
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think twice about what you should do if your skateboard gets wet. However, it’s important to know how to properly care for your board to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. Here are a few tips on what to do if and when your skateboard gets wet:
1. Avoid riding your board in wet conditions if possible. This will help to prevent the water from seeping into the wood and causing damage.
2. If you must ride in wet conditions, try to avoid puddles and standing water. Again, this will help to keep the water from seeping into the wood and causing damage.
3. If your board does get wet, be sure to dry it off as soon as possible. Water can cause the wood to swell and warp, so it’s important to get rid of any excess moisture as soon as you can.
4. If you’re storing your board for an extended period of time, be sure to store it in a dry, cool place. humidity and extreme temperatures can also cause damage to the wood.
5. As soon as you notice your skateboard is wet, dry it off immediately to prevent moisture from seeping into the wood, bearings, and other components. Leaving it unaddressed can cause damage. Use a dry cloth or towel to wipe off as much water as you can from the deck, trucks, wheels, and bearings.
6. If your bearings get wet, it’s important to clean and lubricate them to prevent rust. First, remove the bearings from the wheels and clean them using a bearing cleaner or isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, lubricate them with skateboard-specific bearing oil.
If water seeps into the layers of wood, it can cause the glue to deteriorate, leading to a process called delamination. Unfortunately, once delamination begins, there are no effective solutions to repair it, and you may need to replace the board. If your board absorbs water but doesn’t delaminate, it may lose its resilience (pop) and become warped or distorted.
You can use some nail polish remover to clean them, let them dry out on a paper towel, and then lube them with Bones Speed Cream. If you don’t clean them after they’ve gotten wet, they might rust or seize. It’ll start with a squeaking noise, and then the metals will begin to oxidize from the inside out.
Make sure to dry your wheels before putting the bearings back in.
Video Guide
Conclusion:
To sum up, whether or not you should skateboard in the rain isn’t a straightforward answer. Though it is feasible to skate in wet conditions, there are various key aspects to take into account.
Your safety should always come first, as wet surfaces can significantly raise the chance of accidents due to less grip and control. Furthermore, riding in the rain can lead to quicker deterioration of your skateboard’s components, which might require more frequent maintenance or replacements.
People Also asked questions about Can You Skateboard in the Rain
Is it OK to skateboard when it’s wet?
Water is bad for the bearings, board, trucks, and bolts. Plus, you might have to deal with hydroplaning, which could affect your performance of skateboard. So, try not to skate in the rain or through puddles.
What to do if you left your skateboard in the rain?
A towel can help with this, but be sure to carefully dry off any metal parts – especially the bearings – to avoid rusting. If your skateboard is wet and you’re not able to dry it off immediately, store it in a dry, cool place. Once it’s completely dry, you can oil the bearings and ride again.
Is it OK to ride a longboard in the rain?
Well, the short answer is yes.
Most longboards are designed to be sturdy, durable, and somewhat water-resistant. But to be more detailed, let’s look at various factors in determining how to protect your longboard perfectly after it gets wet.
Can bearings get wet?
Keep your bearings dirt-free, moisture-free, and lubricated. Water will rust your bearings and dirt will destroy the smoothness of the super finish on your bearing races, increasing friction.
Is it harder to ride in the rain?
Rain won’t affect speed by adding rolling resistance unless there are several inches of water on the road. But rain slows you because it’s more dangerous to corner and harder to see when water flies up from the wheels of other riders.
How do you waterproof a longboard?
If your board doesn’t have a full coat of paint or lacquer, or it does but you want to make it more water resistant, a clear coat of polyurethane can be painted over the entire board to keep water from soaking into the wood.
Does water ruin ball bearings?
In fact, bearings can lose 75 percent of their life due to water damage before an oil becomes cloudy. Rolling-element bearings are sensitive not only to emulsified water but also to dissolved water.
How do you dry bearings fast?
Dry & Re-lubricate
Another option is to use a hair dryer or compressed air if you have access to them. Once the bearings are dry, it’s important to re-lubricate them to prevent damaging friction. For this step, we recommend using a skate-specific bearing lubricant such as Bones Speed Cream or Bronson Speed Co.
