Can You Longboard in The Rain? Yes If You’re Ready!

Yes, you can longboard in the rain but there are some precautionary measures that you should take to keep yourself and your board safe and sound.

Skating itself is an incredibly fun thing to do no matter the board type, the terrain, the weather or even your age.

You can take the fun to a whole ‘nother level if you try skating in the rain. But is it all good?

Why Longboard in The Rain

1. Amazing experience!

Riding the board in the rain can be pretty tough as the roads get wet and slippery, thereby increasing the chances of one losing control.

If you learn to longboard in such dire situations, you will turn out to be an exceptional skater with some feelings to talk about!

2. Beginner-friendly

One of the many pros of learning to ride in the rain is that it enables amateur learners to learn sliding easily as there is less traction while riding on wet surfaces making it simple for people who find difficulty in sliding.

Learning to slide in the rain is the simplest and more common way to learn to slide than on dry surfaces.

3. Convivial and pleasurable

Longboarding in or after the rain can be one of the most amusing moments you could wish for!

4. Perfection through Improvement

Riding on a wet surface can be challenging with greater risks.

But once you get the grip and overcome all the fears, this could be the perfect moment for you to perfect your flaws and shortcomings through repeated trials and practice.

Why Not Longboard in The Rain

1. Dangerous

There’s no denying that riding on a wet surface can prove to be dangerous.

Irrespective of whether you are a beginner or have already learned some tricks, the chances of you losing your grip and hurting yourself are pretty high.

2. Damage to the board

Longboards made up of wooden and steel parts can get waterlogged or rusted, if not properly stored and cared for.

What’s more, riding in the rain can cause mud and dirt accumulation on the board which can result in damaged parts.

3. Physically Exhausting

You may not be aware but longboarding as a sport requires a lot of energy and stamina.

For a beginner not flexible enough, it can take a toll on your physical health and leave you dehydrated.

What Does Water Do to Your Longboard?

1. Deck

There are either of two things that can happen:

1. If the deck is not dried on time, then it can get twisted or distorted. This means that the longboard deck might lose its shape, or
2. The grip tape if it gets wet and dirty, will start losing its grip and thereby make the board slippery and prone to accidents as it will not be able to hold your weight.

2. Bearings

It is that part of the longboard which goes bad fastest if gotten wet and not dried.

If you are too lazy to maintain the board after it has gotten wet, then the board might get rusted. When rustingstarts, your board starts losing its speed.

3. Wheels

If this part gets wet, nothing major or negative happens in the long term. So you might not have to worry about the maintenance of the wheels. On getting wet the wheels lose traction with the road, for which one must wear helmet and safety pads while riding.

Axles and Spacers

If you’re lazy, you don’t have to worry about cleaning axles and spacers, and can slack off. This is because there are no side effects of rain on these parts; i.e., they will not directly affect your riding.

But if you will never clean it then rust may begin to develop which might be a problem if you want to unscrew your board. Otherwise, everything will be just fine.

Normal Bearing Vs. Ceramic Bearing for Longboarding In The Rain

 If your board is wet and has not been cleaned then the bearings might get rusted which ultimately will slow down the speed of the board.

This leaves you with two options –either clean and dry the board or opt for ceramic bearing. But what are ceramic bearings and what is the difference between the two?

Ceramic bearings are either water-resistant or waterproof which protects your bearing if they come in contact with the rainwater. But the fun fact- they are pretty expensive.

These ceramic bearings are of two kinds- full or hybrid ceramic. Full ceramics are rustproof while hybrid ones are only rust-resistant and cheaper as compared to full ceramics.

While choosing bearings it is important that you evaluate the attention and maintenance you can keep up with.

Though normal bearings need to be dried timely and require a lot of maintenance, the ceramic bearing cannot be forgotten about. They too need to be re-oiled with the speed creams.

Things to Do Before You Longboard In The Rain

 Check your deck for scratches

 A scratched deck is more prone to warping than if you have a new deck. If you have decided to use a scratched deck, make sure to dry it after riding in it in the rain.

 Use cheaper bearings

 Always use a cheaper bearing so if something goes wrong or gets spoiled it will not cost you much i.e. will be pocket-friendly.

 Rain wheels

 If you are a beginner or not a pro in riding in or after the rain because it gets too slippery for you, the best option is to invest in rain wheels. They help to provide good traction with the road when it gets too wet.

Use grip tape

 It is a must to use clean grip tape because if it gets dirty and water soaks in then the chances of you losing your grip enhance. As the board will not be able to hold your weight while moving, there might be chances of crashing.

 Top mount in the rain

 While choosing a board for a rainy day, always go with the one with the top mount otherwise you may end up getting wet in the rainwater.

 Wear slipper-resistant shoes

 Feet are responsible for controlling the longboard, so if they are wet along with the grip tape, then you know how it could turn out.

 If your deck has scratches, seal it

Just use any water-resistant materials like hair spray or paint and keep in mind to only seal the wooden part and not the grip tape. You may wonder that it is tiresome or time taking but trust me when I say no.

Longboard in clothes you won’t mind getting dirty

 You must be aware that longboarding in the rain will obviously make your clothes wet and dirty. So wear something you don’t mind getting spoiled and is inexpensive and comfortable.

 Consider having a longboard for the rainy day

 If you are not good at maintenance, consider having a separate cheap board so that even if something goes wrong you don’t end up spending more.

Things to Do When You’re LongboardingIn The Rain

 Helmets and safety pads on

 This is one of the most important tips. Riding in the rain can be pretty threatening and dangerous, so always have your helmet and safety pads on.

 Center your weight on top of the board

 Always center your weight on top of the board because if you lean too much, the chances of the board slipping from underneath your feet are high and dangerous.

 Puddles are a no-go

 This is because by doing this you will allow a lot of water to enter the board and especially the bearings plus what looks like a small little innocent puddle could be a huge hole.

 Avoid letting your longboard go

If your board runs away and hits something, the deck can open up with the influx of water. This can be a pretty bad situation. Try to avoid it at all costs and if it does happen make sure to clean it first or it will warp.

Careful with those turns

 Turns can be quite deceptive. There have been many instances where skaters were riding in the rain and the next thing they know is that they crashed while turning.

 Be aware of the little things

 When it’s raining, everything becomes a bit riskier so keep in mind to be constantly aware of the environment and especially the road ahead.

Things to Do After You Have Longboarded in The Rain

 Spin the wheels

 By spinning the wheel after a rainy session you help at least some water to come out. By doing this the chances of the bearings getting rusted will be reduced to a great extent.

 Unscrew the kingpin

 If the kingpin starts to rust, then unscrewing it becomes nearly impossible which will result in disaster as you will not be able to either loosen or tighten the trucks and changing the trucks can be pretty expensive.

 Disassemble your board and dry it

 Unscrew the wheel and other parts of the board. Then dry it first with any rug and then use a hairdryer or some other option to dry out all the parts of the longboard.

 Take care of your bearings the right way

 The best way to take care of the bearings is to first clean them with some solvent and then keep them for drying. After this apply some lubricant or speed cream to keep it in the best way possible.

 Keep your deck above the ground

 After cleaning and drying the board, make sure the deck is above the surface or ground it is laying on. For this, you can use your wheels and lay the deck on top of it.

 Keep it dry

 Even after using a hairdryer and blowing warm air, chances are that the board is not completely rid of water. So the best thing to do is keep it in a dry place for some days to get the best result.

FAQs

1. Can I longboard on wet pavement?

Ans. Yes, you can. The reason is that pavements are concrete and water does not remain there for long so longboarding can be pretty easy.

2. When to stop longboarding in the rain?

Ans.  If there are weather forecasts about any form of natural disaster or there are chances of floods, storms, tsunamis, etc., then you shouldn’t longboard.

3. Can I ride a penny board in the rain?

Ans. No, the reason is they are small and thus you cannot hold your grip properly.