Longboarding in Rain [2022] - All You Need To Know!

Do you enjoy longboarding? Have you ever tried it in the rain? Or does longboarding in the rain sounds new to you. Maybe if you live in a region where it rains every other day, then it won’t sound new to you.

Longboarding is an adventurous sport, and when you go for it in the rain, it can get more fun and exciting. Now you might be thinking that “Does rainwater damage your longboard? or be hazardous for you?”

No wonder you can enjoy longboarding in the rain, but still, you need to be careful and practice before getting real comfortable to avoid any injuries. Therefore, you will definitely need a waterproof longboard. They are readily available for buying online or at the market all around.Even with the waterproof longboard, you would need to adopt some techniques for the ride and after the ride. Once you get practiced, it becomes a fantastic experience and advantageous for you in the rainy season.

Longboarding in Rain – Good or Bad?

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Whether its rain or the weather is dry, Longboarding is fun. Even it gets more exciting but challenging in the rain. It is more exacting to ride on a wet surface than riding on a dry surface as it gets a more slippery touch. Moreover, the speed gets out of control sometimes therefore be careful.On the other hand, if you are new to longboarding, then learning to slide on a wet surface can give you more practice and you may find it easier because there is less or no friction on the damp surface. Commonly people prefer to learn longboard sliding in the rain or right after the sky gets clear.

So basically, longboarding in the rain is both easy and challenging. Not just for beginners, but even if you are an expert ride. Balancing longboard wheels on a wet surface can be a challanging task for many of you. Moreover, you can’t handle speed on the slippery surface at a sudden edgy turn easily. Another issue of longboarding in the rain is that it can wreck your board and its wheels. If you own a wooden board, the wood of the longboard begins to rot with water-absorbing in it and gradually breaks into pieces.

Besides breaking the board’s wood, rain can damage its longboard wheels too. They get rusted with the water and will have trouble moving smoothly. You will need a waterproof longboard or prevent it from getting wet somehow.

A mixture of water and mud can cause severe damage to your longboard and make it filthy. Even if your board is waterproof, you will need to clean it up with a dry cloth and try to keep it in a dry place.

Riding longboard in the rain is totally different from riding under the clear sky. However, It is more amusing than in dry weather. You get to learn new ways and tricks for your ride. It is totally fine to feel nervous before trying it the first time, but you can become a skilled rider within some time. You have to be more careful even for the dry surface.

The grip tape on the upper surface of the longboard gets smudged quickly. Whereas in the rain, it gets dirty even faster. The mud sticks to the grip tape, and if you don’t wash it, it becomes useless and doesn’t help with the grip anymore. If it gets out of your control you can get on slippery surfaces.

Key Preventions for Your Longboard

Even if you are good at longboarding, you still have to take preventative measures to avoid any discomfort in the rain. You can get guidance from an experienced rider but if you don’t know any experienced rider then no need to worry. We have sorted some of the most necessary measures which you have to keep in view while longboarding.

Cleaning the Bearings After the Ride

You might have noticed that the bearings of a longboard get rusted. This is not because of using them in rain or dirt but this happens when you don’t clean them properly for a long time. However, the dirt on your longboard on and on makes them rusted. So after enjoying the right, make sure to clean it properly; otherwise, your next ride wont is fun anymore.

Besides, you can buy waterproof or water-resistant ceramics bearings for longboarding in the rain, but they are costly for some days’ use only. Even if the board is made of full ceramics, it can get dirt on it.

So we advise you to take some time out for cleaning your longboard to remove dust and dirt from it. Other than water because even the full ceramic bearings do need oiling and to apply a cream for better speed.

Cleaning the Deck and Grip Tape

Another critical precaution after the problem of the bearings is deck and grip tape. They can get more problematic when ruined with rainwater. The deck is made of wood and is the main part of the longboard, as it holds the most weight. It needs to be smooth and dry; otherwise, the wood can break into pieces.

Moreover, it may look nasty and rough if not cleaned out thoroughly. The primary function of grip tape is to prevent slip and imbalance. When it gets wet, it doesn’t help with the grip to keep balance on the slippery surface, so make sure to keep the grip tape dry and clean.

Wearing Helmet, Pads, and Gloves

Other than taking care of your longboard, you need to be careful to avoid any injuries in the rain. You need to be well thought out about the type of clothes you wear for protection from rain and cold.

Just like wearing a helmet for riding a motorcycle, you will need a helmet for longboarding. Also, wear your safety pads made for the elbow, knees, etc., to avoid any injuries from accidents. The weather in rain and wind can make you feel cold, so wearing gloves can also help.

How Should you Go Longboarding in the Rain?

Low-Cost longboard for Longboarding in the Rain

Specifically for longboarding in the rain, you can buy and keep a low-priced longboard. To prevent any damage clean it immediately after using it. Even if it gets ruined in the rain, it won’t cause too much to you to renew it or any specific part. Moreover, you will have another longboard for riding in the dry weather at hand.

Check Before Use

Before getting on the board, check it’s all its parts properly and look for any scratches, loosened wheel, or wrecked bearings. Any scratch on the deck can easily lead to its destruction on the rough and wet surface and cause you to lose balance.

Wear Casual and Comfortable Clothes

While longboarding, your clothes, and shoes can get really messed up. You have to wear something comfy and casual so that your nice clothes don’t get ruined in the rain.

Also, you should wear shoes that are not slippery, and for sure you won’t like dirt on your white-colored or expensive canvas shoes. Besides the grip tape, your comfortable and good outsole grip shoes are going to help a lot with wet surfaces and longboards.

Careful Longboarding and Sliding

You need to be cautious and stay alert for anything coming in the way. Even a small stone can be a starting point for the wrecking of your deck. Slow down a bit at every turn and maintain a good grip while sliding and turning.

Moreover, try to balance your weight at the center of the deck to avoid slipping from under your feet. If you are longboarding on a wet surface for the first time, don’t use the same tricks that you do on the dry surface. Learn about careful longboarding in the rain first before giving it a shot.

Cleaning the Board After Use

Just as you enjoy longboarding, you should also keep it clean and tidy to avoid any damage to it. Use a clean wiping cloth for its deck, bearings, and wheels after riding it in the rain. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy longboarding with the same board for a long time.

Removing the parts that are detachable after the ride is a good idea. In this way, all the parts will dry quickly. Besides, you can use a blow dryer to dry out the water from the deck and wheels.

Oiling the Bearings and Spinning the Wheels

You should oil the bearings and maintain their smoothness from time to time. For wheels, you have to spin them before and after a ride. Spinning them before can give you an idea about their smoothness, and spinning them afterward will drain out water from inside them.

Practicing Foot Break

You need to learn how to stop your longboard with your foot when you need to on the wet surface. There are different tips and tricks for that. You can start practicing with slow speed and eventually at high speed.

A sudden break on the wet surface can be difficult for you. So you should not ride longboard at high speed if you are a beginner. Start with the basics and keep learning with time to stop your longboard with your foot.

Longboarding on Busy Roads

Tips to Make Your Board Waterproof

If you don’t have a waterproof longboard, you can turn your old board into a waterproof one and prevent it from getting damaged. With some simple techniques, you can easily prevent water from getting into your board’s wood. Such as:

If your board is not waterproof and does not have a layer of paint and lacquer on it, you can apply a coat of polyurethane to it. Polyurethane coat can be painted on both top and bottom of the board but not on the grip tape.

The second most damageable part of a longboard is its bearings. They get rusted real quick in rainwater. You can either buy inexpensive bearings for longboarding in the rain or choose to cover it from water by simply using tape on it. Also, applying oil on it regularly and cleaning after riding can protect it from water.
You can try these hacks at home or else buy waterproof parts for your board which will cost you around 100 $ in total. It depends upon your passion to protect your longboard. These all are an alternative for a waterproof longboard.

Longboarding in Heavy Rain

Although longboarding in the rain is fun and there are many ways to enjoy it in the rain, if the rain is heavy and stormy, it can cause more difficulty and harm than giving a chance to enjoy longboarding.

Even if your board is waterproof and has a grip tape, you can’t balance yourself in the rain and on the slippery surface and can fall easily. Therefore, avoid riding a longboard in heavy rain.

Top Mount Longboards for Riding in the Rain

If you are really enthusiastic about longboarding and are about to buy a new longboard for riding, especially in the rain. Then top mount longboard is a better option than a drop-through because it lets the rider make sharp turns easily with more control and balance.

Conclusion – Longboarding in Rain

You should definitely give it a try to longboarding in the rain but after following precautionary measures and using different tips and tricks. Make sure to have a waterproof longboard or make your old longboard waterproof with the techniques explained above.

Learn how to keep balance on the wet surface and slide. But if the rain is heavy, don’t take the risk to longboard; it will only cause injuries. Lastly, if it is only drizzling, get prepared and enjoy the ride!

Longboarding in Rain [2022] – All You Need To Know!