Maybe you rolled through a puddle while cruising around town or got caught in a surprise rainstorm at the skatepark; whatever the reason, your skateboards soaked and you aren’t sure what to do about it.
Contrary to what many people say, getting your skateboard wet from time to time isn’t a big deal, however, it can drastically shorten the lifespan of certain components like the deck and bearings.
When your skateboard gets wet, the best thing to do is get out of the rain and wait until the ground dries. Components such as the deck, trucks, and bearings should be dried to reduce the chances of rust and waterlogging. It’s also worthwhile to apply a silicone-based lubricant to your bearings.
If your board gets a little wet from a few drops of rain, there’s nothing to worry about. However, when your board gets properly soaked, these basic maintenance tips are going to be pretty important.
So to help you better understand the reasons behind why you don’t want your skateboard to get wet, and ways to fix them, let’s break it down.
Can Skateboards Get Wet?
Although a skateboard can technically get wet without too much of a problem, this only applies if it rarely gets wet. If you got caught in a rainstorm while sessioning a spot, you won’t notice anything suddenly different about your board.
However, water starts to become an issue when your skateboard sees a lot of it. If you are skating to school in the rain every day, hitting every puddle you see, or leaving your board in the rain for days at a time, you’re guaranteed to see some problems.
The main problems that occur when your board gets wet are:
- A waterlogged deck
- Weakened grip-tape adhesion
- Rusted bearings
On the surface, this might not seem like a big deal, but these factors will seriously affect your skating.
Waterlogged Decks
A waterlogged deck is when the wood becomes saturated with water, causing the deck to warp, lose pop, and even separate between layers. This is a surefire way to ruin your board and make it terrible to skate on.
For example, I had a friend who let his deck get waterlogged and it become so warped that only three wheels touched the ground. The board was way harder to skate on and sucked to do tricks with.
Unfortunately, there’s no fixing a deck that’s become waterlogged. If you let it go that far, it’s time to start looking for another deck to skate.
Sorry to put it to you so bluntly.
Peeling Grip Tape
Now the second issue water has with your skateboard is that it can eventually cause your grip tape to lose adhesion and peel from your board. For example, when pushing on a wet road, your shoes gather water on the bottom which makes its way onto the grip tape. This water soaks through your grip and ends up pooling on top of your deck. The longer this water sits, the more it weakens the glue beneath your grip tape, inevitably making it more likely to peel in the future.
Luckily if your grip tape gets wet, you can leave your skateboard on its side in a dry place for a day or two. This will allow any excess water to run off the side of the deck, while giving time for the grip tape to thoroughly dry.
It may also be worthwhile to place your skateboard near a low-intensity heat source to speed up the drying time. That way you don’t need to worry about water seeping into your deck.
Rusted Bearings
Finally, a wet skateboard is almost certain of rusted bearings if the proper care is given. Since your bearings are in the center of your wheel, any wet surface you roll on is guaranteed to get water in your bearings.
And because bearings and made of metal, and water rusts metal, well, you get the picture.
With a rusted bearing, you end up with a handful of problems. Your bearing won’t roll as smoothly, the oil on the bearing races will dry out, and the bearing can completely seize together. With all these issues at play, your bearing can become so dry and rusted that it explodes while you’re skating.
I’ve seen it happen and it’s a one-way ticket straight to slam-town.
Luckily this can be mitigated by taking proper care of your bearings after they’ve gotten wet. Something I’ll break down more in the next section.
What To Do When Your Skateboard Gets Wet?
So now you know why getting your skateboard wet definitely sucks.
But fortunately, there are a few ways to keep things running smoothly even after your board gets soaked.
With that said, these preventative measures aren’t meant to say you can skate in the rain whenever you want. Constant contact with water is like poison to your board. If you want it to last longer and skate better, always avoid rain and wet surfaces.
However, accidents happen, and that’s where these tips come into play.
Now, this may go without saying, but make sure to hand dry your board with a towel after it’s gotten wet. This helps to remove any excess water and keep your trucks from getting rusty too. Once that’s done, it’s time to lubricate your bearings.
– How To Dry & Lubricate Wet Bearings
Bearing lubrication is recommended every couple of months to ensure everything runs smoothly. However, after skating in the rain, it’s important to lubricate them again with a silicone-based lubricant.
One of the best lubricants for skateboard bearings is Bones Speed Cream which is the one I personally use. You could also get away with a silicone-based bike chain lubricant too if you have that.
The lubricant you should avoid is WD40 since it will further dry out your bearings and cause them to bind up over time.
With your lubricant of choice ready to go and your bearings now completely dry, follow these steps to lube your bearings:
- First remove your wheels from your trucks using a skate tool of 1/2″ socket.
- Get a blade or a thumb tack and lift the shields off of all your bearings.
- With your bearing balls exposed, add 3-4 drops of silicone based lubricant to each bearing.
- Pinch the center of the bearings and rotate the wheel in your fingers to spread around the lubricant.
- Place the shields back on your bearings by pressing them into place with your fingers.
- Attach your wheels back onto your trucks.
Adding lubricant will prevent rusting, binding, and allow the bearing to roll smoothly. Before you lubricate your bearings, remember to give them enough time to dry after being in the wet. Otherwise, a wet bearing won’t allow the lubricant to do its job as effectively.
– How To Tell When Your Deck Is Waterlogged?
Earlier in this post, I mentioned why a waterlogged deck is something you want to avoid, but how can you tell if a deck is waterlogged?
The easiest way to tell is by tapping the tail of the board against the ground. A fresh, dry deck will make a crisp snapping sound as it taps against the concrete. Meanwhile, a waterlogged deck will have a more dull thud when you tap the tail.
The second way to tell if your deck is waterlogged is to skate it. A waterlogged deck will feel heavier and have far less pop than a dry deck. If you’ve been noticing your tricks suddenly become harder to pop after skating in the rain, waterlogging is likely the issue.
– What Happens When Your Grip Tape Becomes Wet?
If your grip tape got soaked after skating in the wet, first lay your board on its side in a warm and dry area. I’ve often placed my deck in front of the fireplace on low heat in this case. Leaving your board in this position allows water to run off the board while speeding up the drying time of your grip tape.
Just keep in mind that you should wait until your grip tape is completely dry before you start skating again.
Will Skateboarding In The Rain Ruin Your Board?
No, skateboarding for a few minutes in the rain won’t ruin your board. However, it will ruin your board if you frequently skate on wet ground, through puddles, and in the rain.
Because of that, it’s best to avoid the wet at all costs to keep your board in better shape. It literally saves you money by only skating in the dry since you don’t need to replace your board on the regular.
If you’re like me and live in a place that rains or snows for half of the year, this is a tough reality to deal with. Luckily, there are some ways you can still skate in rain, without risking the longevity of your skateboard. I break it all down here in my guide to skateboarding when it’s raining.
Happy Shredding!
Brendan 🙂
