Waterlogged Skateboards: Does Water Ruin Skateboards?

Always Skating. Always Living. This is Salty Shreds.

Able to withstand hundreds of rail grinds and ollies down stairs, your skateboard can take one heck of a beating. But when it comes to water, yeah, not so much…

Does water ruin skateboards? It sure does. This is what it means to have a 'waterlogged skateboard', how water negatively affects the other components of your shred stick, and how you can fix it.

When your skateboard makes contact with water, depending on severity, chances are it will become waterlogged. Your skateboard deck is made of wood, and because wood is porous, it will absorb H2O.

No, it won't suck up a puddle like a sponge, but even the littlest bit of water can enter the wooden construction and negatively alter the board's performance.

So what happens when a board becomes waterlogged, and how can you tell? Signs of a skateboard damaged by water include:

Aside from hindering the performance of your actual skateboard deck, water also ruins the other components of your board, including the trucks/bushings, hardware, bearings, and wheels.

Trucks are tough, but enough water exposure will lead to rust, and the bushings will weaken. This means less response from your turns and a very stiff riding experience.

And the bearings? Bearings rust extremely easily, and basically, this means you won't be able to move! Spin your skateboard wheel. If it doesn't spin fast and free, stopping abruptly after a few rotations, then your bearings could be rusted. Good luck skating if your board sat in the rain.

For the skateboard wheels, which are also porous, water will absorb, weaken, soften, and increase the chance of chipping this urethane formula.

Check Out Our Entire Range of Grom Skateboard Completes.

Your best bet is to avoid water at all costs, as a board will never be the same if it's left in the rain. But things happen, and if you do damage your board with water, there are a few things you can do to try to return it to its normal state, including:

1. Take Apart the Board

Remove the individual pieces of your board, including the hardware, trucks, wheels, and bearings.

2. Dry the Pieces by Hand

Both the inner and outer areas of your equipment. Use a Q-tip to dry the inside of the bearings, for example.

3. Let the Deck Sunbathe

Set the skateboard deck in the sun and allow it to dry, the water evaporating from the board's interior. Keep the other hardware inside to avoid rust.

4. Bearing Cleaner

Use a bearing cleaner (NOT WD40!!) to clean and lubricate the bearings.

5. Clean the Griptape

Using a griptape cleaner.

6. Replace Parts Where Needed

If you notice a weak bushing or screw starting to rust, replace it immediately.

7. Put it Back Together

Once fully dry, you can piece the board together again and go skate! But this time? Check the weather...

Does water ruin skateboards? Now you see it does.

It's your job to keep your board out of the H2O at all costs, and if you have little skate kids, remind them to do the same. Practice good board maintenance, and keep them inside out of the weather.

Never ride in the rain, don't go through puddles, and try not to fall if you're kickflipping a six stair by the canal.

And if it is raining? You can still skate!

There are plenty of indoor skateparks in Australia and the rest of the world, one of the best ways to spend a stormy day with your groms. That, or clear out some space in the garage to practice kickflips!

They even have soft, indoor trucks to practice flip tricks on the carpet without damaging the floor. To this, I say peace out screen time. My kids are skating till their legs fall off!

Check out my recent guide to surfskates if you're interested in expanding your skateboarding and surfing horizons, and until then, stay radical, my salty people!