Skateboarding is a thrilling sport all over the world. My friends and I planned to go skating a few days ago. After some time, it started raining. One of my friends asked me,” Can you skate in the rain?” With it, many questions were raised in my curious mind. Is it ok to ride a skateboard in the rain? Will rain ruin our skateboards?
For making it more thriller we did skateboarding in the rain. Thus we gathered a lot of experiences. From those, I will answer the questions Can you ride a skateboard in the rain? The answer may be, Yes. It will be a great thriller to skate in the rain. But technically skating in the rain comes with significant risks and requires specific precautions. I will strongly advise you not to skate in the rain. It is too risky to get injured.
Why You Shouldn’t Ride a Skateboard When It’s Wet
Skateboarding in wet conditions can have adverse effects on you as well as your skateboard. The chance of getting injured is high while skating on wet concrete. Here are some of the primary risks skaters face when riding in the rain:
Rain Will Increase Slipping And Falling
Wet surfaces have significantly reduced traction between the skateboard wheels and the ground. This lack of traction makes it challenging to control the board. It makes increases the likelihood of slips, slides, and falls. Even routine maneuvers become precarious on slippery surfaces. This puts a skater at risk of injury including bruises, scrapes, sprains, strains, fractures, etc.
Skateboarding Equipment Will Be Damaged
Rainwater can cause significant damage to all the components of your skateboard. Just imagine that you are skating and suddenly your equipment fails. That means injuries are a must. That’s why I strongly advise you not to ride a skateboard in the rain or when it’s wet outside.
These are the most common Problems With skating in wet conditions;
- Bearings may rust and seize up
- Wheels may become waterlogged and lose their responsiveness
- Decks may warp or delaminate.
- Grip tapes can be wet and slippery
- Bolts can be loosened and affect the overall stability.
- Damaged equipment can affect the skater’s ability to control their boards.
- Rain will reduce your visibilities
- Rain can impair both your vision and the vision of others. It becomes difficult to spot potential hazards and react quickly. This can increase the risk of collisions with other skaters, vehicles, or other obstacles.
Protective Gear Will be Affected Due To Rain
Skating in the rain can also compromise the effectiveness of protective gear. Helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards may become less reliable in wet conditions. As a result, they lose their ability to cushion impacts and prevent injuries. Additionally, wet clothing and gear can become heavy and uncomfortable. It also hinders the skater’s mobility and reaction time.
It’s important to remember that the above can cause injuries to anyone either any beginners or experienced skaters.
Alternative Places Instead of Skating in The Rain
Skateboarding in the outdoors is the most thrilling experience. Often, we plan to ride skateboards, but unexpected conditions prevent us from doing so. From this, we think about alternative places to skate. You can choose one of those according to your preferences from several options.
An indoor skatepark can be an option. It depends on different factors. For example; the location of yours and skateparks, entry fees of skateparks, time of skating, and so on.
Places that provide shelter from the rain include underground parking garages, abandoned warehouses, metro stations, and metro stations with underground parking.
Dave Armstrong Extreme Park, Burnside Skatepark, Kona Skatepark, Cream City, Area 51, Skatelab, and Kona Skate Park are also the most popular indoor skateboards.
A little rain shouldn’t stop you from having fun! With these alternative places, you can turn a potentially gloomy day into an exciting and enjoyable adventure. So, grab your umbrella, choose, or find an indoor skatepark near you!
Skateboard Maintenance for Wet Weather
Skateboarding or longboarding on wet surfaces poses some struggles and challenges. It can impact the performance and longevity of your skateboards. To ensure the top conditions of your boards you need to practice proper maintenance.
Here are some valuable tips for your skateboard maintenance in wet weather.
Keep Your Skateboard Bearings Clean and Lubricated
Here a question comes, “Is skating in the rain bad for your bearings?”
One of the most important skateboard maintenance in wet conditions is keeping bearings clean and lubricated. Moisture from rain can cause bearings to rust and seize up.
This will lead to sluggish performance and potential damage on wet concrete.
I always clean my skateboard bearings with a bearing cleaner. It removes dirt, debris, or moisture. You can also use cleaning solvent as you wish.
Protect Your Skateboard Deck from Water Damage:
Riding a skateboard in the rain will cause your skateboard deck to warp, delaminate, or crack. The best way to protect your skateboard is to avoid skating in the rain. If you skate in the rain you will need to follow the following maintenance tips.
You can apply a waterproof sealant or clear coat. This will provide a protective layer against moisture.
Some Skateboard brands also offer waterproof skateboard decks. You can also try these.
Here comes a common question Is it possible to fix a waterlogged skateboard deck?
The answer is yes. It is possible to fix it in successive steps. These are
- Immediate Drying
- Sun Exposure (with caution)
- Reshaping (limited success)
- Replacing Damaged Parts
Remember: Even following these steps sometimes won’t give you the original performance and strength.
Dry Your Skateboard Grip Tape Thoroughly
Skateboard wet grip tape will be slippery when grip tape gets wet. This will affect skaters’ ability to maintain traction while skating. After skating in wet weather, be sure to dry your grip tape thoroughly to remove any moisture. Use a clean towel or rag to blot away excess water. Then allow your grip tape to air dry completely.
Take a look at your Skateboard Trucks and Hardware
Skateboarding in the rain will cause rust and corrosion on your skateboard trucks and hardware. Regularly inspect your trucks, bolts, and other hardware for signs of rust or damage.
Once I noticed rust on my skateboard truck. I used a rust remover to clean and protect my skateboard hardware. You can also use lubricant to ensure more smooth and reliable performance.
Many of us will ask How do you take care of a skateboard after rain? The answer is by following these tips for skateboard maintenance in wet weather, you can protect your skateboard bearings, deck, grip tape, trucks, and hardware. And you will get optimal performance and longevity for your skateboard.
Waterproof Skateboards and Their Components
What if you are caught in the rain while skating? And you don’t need to be concerned about the condition of skateboards. For this benefit, many popular skateboard brands offer water-resistant skateboards and components. You can easily buy a waterproof electric skateboard, waterproof longboard, and waterproof electric longboard from local and online shops. Water will not ruin your skateboard. These skateboards are designed in that way.
How Can You Skateboard in The Rain?
I have already suggested not skating in the rain. Sometimes it happens while skating, the rain has started. In those conditions, there are some tactics you can use to somewhat preserve your board.
Try To Avoid Getting Wet Your Feet
For making your board wet, your feet play a crucial role. Water transfers from your grip tape to your shoes as you push through puddles and wet surfaces. This is not an ideal. Always try to avoid pushing through set cement to keep your skateboard grip tape dry.
Avoid Skating Through Puddles
Avoid skating through any puddles to keep your board as dry as possible. Skating on wet cement will cause a bit of spray. Going in puddles will also increase the chances of hydroplaning. This will hinder you a lot while controlling your board.
Avoid Any Muddy Spots
On roads and sidewalks, mud and dirt tend to gather around the edges. You should stay away from these patches because they will fill your bearings with a ton of debris.
Avoid Doing Skating Tricks In The Rain
Either skating in the rain or skating in wet conditions should be as normal as possible. You are strongly advised not to do tricks in that weather. Cruising in the rain, ollies in the rain, and riding ramps in the rain is like a pure danger for getting injured.
Final words
Skateboarding is a wonderful sport. People all over the world love to skate all the time. Sometimes many skaters are stuck in rainstorms. They need to know how to handle those situations. That’s why these questions come, Can you skateboard in the rain? How do you ride a skateboard in the rain? Or Is it OK to ride a skateboard in the rain?
I have already answered all the questions throughout the article. I will lastly advise you to always be concerned about safety first. Follow the safety tips when you get stuck in the rain. If possible don’t ride a skateboard in the rain. Keep your skateboard in top condition by following the maintenance tips.
Keep yourself safe and skate freely.