Many skateboard users choose to long-board because it is an extremely fun activity. Twisting and Sliding with your longboard can significantly improve a rider’s mood. While longboarding can be fun, the question, can you long-board in the rain? is one question many longboarding enthusiasts continue to ask.
You can longboard in the rain. However, the activity is quite dangerous. Long-boarders need to have the appropriate knowledge on how to long-board on wet surfaces and safety precautions they need to maintain to protect the integrities of themselves and their long boards.
Can You Long-Board In The Rain?
Yes, you can long-board in the rain. You can even long-board after a rainfall. Essentially, you can long-board on wet surfaces.
However, before you do so, you should have the knowledge of how to safely long-board in the rain and the steps required maintaining the integrity of your long board before and after using it to long-board on wet surfaces.
Can Anyone Long-Board In The Rain?
No, not everyone should long-board in the rain. It is advisable that teenagers and adults avoid long-boarding in the rain. The activity is quite dangerous and needs a quick response to situations, which is easily provided by adolescents.
Pros And Cons Of Long-Boarding During Rainfall
Like many other things, long-boarding in the rain has its upsides and downsides.
The Positive Sides of Long-boarding in the Rain
It is exciting:
Long-boarding in the rain is extremely exciting. The experience is quite different from long-boarding on dry surfaces. In fact, most people fancy the idea of longboarding in the rain because they find it adventurous.
Younger riders that prefer to ride their long boards in the rain have lots of fun with friends or peers. Consequentially, it can be a great activity to spend time with friends and loved ones, or perhaps, alone. Long-boarding in the rain can make your worries and stresses dissipate right into the atmosphere.
It helps long-boarders learn sliding quickly:
The basic way of long-boarding is on dry surfaces. There is more friction on dry surfaces than on wet surfaces, which means sliding and turning are more difficult. In the rain or on wet surfaces, the lesser friction means riders are allowed to slide and twist on the surfaces easily.
Long-boarding in the rain is a common trick used by long-boarders, especially amateurs, to get a grip on how to slide and twist on their long boards.
It helps riders to gain more experience and knowledge about long-boarding:
It is more difficult for riders to maintain their stabilities on their long boards when riding in the rain. They have to be extremely cautious while twisting and when their long boards are gaining high speeds. The process of maintain their balancing on the boards can fine tune these riders. Many long-boarders have leveled up in terms of experience and skills using this technique.
The Cons of Long-boarding in the Rain
The activity can be extremely dangerous:
With rain, road surfaces become really slippery. This means the surfaces now have reduced friction. As a result of this, riders need to take extreme caution to ensure they do not lose balance and attachment to their boards.
By losing balance, riders can sustain some serious injuries. If a turn is made too fast on a slippery surface, the long-board can slide away from a rider’s feet and the rider will fall. It is more of concern when twisting and gaining momentum, riders are advised to be cautious.
Your long board and its bearings can be damaged:
If your long-board is not maintained before and after long-boarding in the rain, it can sustain damages. While riding in the rain, water gets accumulated in certain allowances on the board. Riders must leave their boards to dry under the sun. Otherwise, the residual water will weaken the wood the board is made of and increases its chances of warping.
A board’s bearings are more susceptible to damage from water than other parts of the board. If they are not cleaned after a session in the rain, they will start to rust as they are made of metal. A long-term of this is that the board will not be able to reach high speeds it could previously attain.
How to long-board in the Rain?
It is best to keep a specific long board for rainy day sessions. The long board could be a cheap one that costs less to repair and is equipped with good bearings. If you own multiple long boards, you shouldn’t use all of them on wet surfaces.
A top mount long board is a very good option for riders that wish to long-board in the rain. You could also go for long boards that properly cover their bearings.
Long boarders must be properly dressed for the occasion. Long-boarding in the rain will get your outfit wet and, possibly, soiled. It is advisable for riders to put on clothes that are not too expensive for such an event.
- Magneto Longboard – Bamboo Drop.
- Apollo Longboard
- M Merkapa 41 inch Cruiser Longboard.
- Jueli 41 inch Freeride Longboard.
How To Prevent Damage To Your Long Board When Riding In The Rain?
It has been established that long-boarding in the rain can pose some serious damage to your long board. Some long boards are more susceptible to water damage than others. Long boards without a layer of coating or paint to protect the faces of the board will absorb water more easily and quickly. Coating makes it slightly harder for the long boards to absorb water. However, coating your long board is not a thorough solution to making your long board water resistant.
Adding an extra layer of polyurethane is an extra measure to preventing your long board from being damaged by water. It would be best to ensure the coating reaches all of the board’s faces (its top, bottom, and sides).
Your board’s bearings are also prone to water damage. To prevent damage, use several tricks in protecting your boards’ bearings. Simply wrap your board’s bearings with duct tape and swap the costly bearings with cheaper ones whenever embarking on a session in the rain. The standard method of protecting your bearings is to apply a layer of bearing lube before and after a session in the rain. Cleaning them after a rain session is also good.
What are the safety tips to follow while long-boarding in the Rain?
In 2012, five deaths were recorded from longboarding crashes in the United States and in Canada. In 2013, the number of longboard-related deaths in both countries dropped to four.
Here are some safety tips to follow during a session in the rain:
Screen your board before take-off:
Before you riding your long-board, you should check its integrity. You should watch out for previous damages it might have sustained during previous long-boarding sessions. You should ensure you coat the damages with materials that have water resistant properties. Slightly damaged long boards are more susceptible to warping than unused ones.
Wear non-slip shoes:
Your feet play a major role in controlling and keep balance on the long board. Riders should ensure they are wearing non-slippery shoes they are about to go for a session in the rain. Otherwise, the riders may fall off the board and sustain injuries.
Put on your helmet and safety pads:
Riders must make sure they have their helmets and safety pads are on, while ensuring they are placed appropriately.
Go around water puddles:
Water puddles are easily formed in the rain. Long-boarders are advised to avoid this collected water. This helps in reducing water exposure with the board and its bearings. Besides, the content of the puddle can sometimes be unknown.
Watch out for little things:
During rain, everything under it can pose as hazards because of the slippery surfaces. You should be conscious of the road and its surroundings while riding your long board.
Be cautious when turning:
Turning on dry surfaces can be risky. Doing so on wet surfaces is riskier. There have been numerous instances in which rider’s sustained injuries while turning on their long boards in the rain.
Place your weight directly at the center of the board’s surface:
It is recommended that riders place their weights at the center of the top of the board. With that, they would be able to bend their knees and properly turn the boards with their ankles.
Final Words
Can you longboard in the rain? Yes, it is possible to long-board in the rain. All you need to know are the safety precautions you should main while long-boarding in the rain and how to maintain your long board after a session in the rain.
