These are some typical mistakes of skateboarders such as leaving their boards outside or soaking the skateboard into the water for a long time. These actions will gradually damage the board without any noticeable sign; therefore, once they find out how bad the situation is, it is too late.
In today’s thread, you can find out the proper way to take care of your skateboard so that it can last for a long time. The following suggestions are taken from SkateAdvisors - a popular skateboarding website where pro skaters share so many valuable tips about skateboards as well as skateboarding skills, SkateAdvisors' address: 902 Avenue C, Brooklyn, NY 11218, United States. If you want to find out more about this sport, you can take a few minutes to visit this website.
KEEP THE BOARD DRY AND CLEAN
Although it may be obvious to many skaters, some underestimate the damages that are caused by dirt or moisture on their boards. In fact, these factors won’t destroy the board immediately but weaken it from inside out. That’s why pro skaters always recommend riders to keep their skateboards in a dry and clean place.
However, a dry place doesn’t need to be too hot or too cold since, under these conditions, the components of your board can unintentionally change their properties. From my experience, you can make a hanger inside your house such as in your room or the garage to hang your board there every time you get back from your skating sessions.
KEEP THEM INSIDE
Leaving your board outside is the worst thing you can do to your skateboard. Although the chance of a skateboard being stolen or getting wrecked is super small, there is no protection against harsh weather conditions. For example, letting your skateboard under the rain for a night can create the right opportunity for water to enter your deck and other metal components. Eventually, your skateboard deck becomes weaker and weaker while other components like trucks or bearings start becoming rusty.
To learn more about skateboarding in general, check out the skateboarding articles by Robert Parker.
On the other hand, keeping your board on super dry areas isn’t good either. Typically, these places contain a lot of dust which is the most dangerous enemy to moving parts of your skateboard. Under direct heat and radiation, the metal parts inside your board can be stretched undesirably. Besides installing a skateboard hanger in your house which I stated before, you can create your own skateboard rack for easy storing and accessing your skateboard.
REPLACEMENT AT THE RIGHT TIME
All the components inside your skateboard are important, even the smallest one like a nut can significantly affect your performance. Unfortunately, after a long time of usage, some parts may wear out no matter how well you have taken care of them. At this stage, the best choice is to replace them with new ones.
Typically, the best beginner skateboard can last for a couple of years before needing replacement. Therefore, skaters, especially newbies with not much knowledge should learn the sign of worn-out parts so they can substitute them when it’s necessary.
CLEAN YOUR WHEELS PROPERLY
Your wheels are the parts that make direct contact with the ground so it is highly recommended that skaters take care of them after every ride. For some skaters, this may sound weird but doing this will help prevent dirt or dust from getting inside these components. In my opinion, cleaning the wheels or bearings with tissue or wipes is enough. And similarly, other parts of your skateboard need cleaning regularly after every skating session.
CHECK THE DECK REGULARLY
The deck has to withstand the weight of the rider and in some tricks, the total force exerted on the deck is greater than just gravitational force. Therefore, checking the deck regularly does more good than bad. The tail and nose of your deck are frequently exposed to the tarmac; therefore, they are quite vulnerable and wear out so quickly.
By checking the deck regularly, you can know exactly whether there are any cracks, chips, etc on your deck. These chips can cause nasty cuts on the rider’s feet and the deck is not in good condition if there are too many chips or cracks.
>>> More detailed skateboard posts by Robert Parker on instagram.
FINAL WORDS
Taking care of your favorite skateboard may take time and effort but this will result in a well-maintained skateboard that can easily last for a long time. Even though you are capable of buying the most expensive product on the market, the board can wear out in no time if the owner doesn’t take good care of them. Hence, frequently maintaining your board is the best way to make it more durable and long-lasting.
