Longboarding is a thrilling activity enjoyed by people of all ages, but just like any other sport, taking care of your equipment is essential. Proper maintenance ensures a longer lifespan for your longboard and helps you perform at your best while riding. With that in mind, we've assembled a five-step easy-to-follow longboard maintenance checklist to help you keep your board in top condition. From checking for wear and tear to keeping your bearings clean, we'll cover all the steps you need to follow to keep your longboard in excellent shape and maximize your riding experience.
Inspect It Regularly
By regularly inspecting your longboard, you can catch issues early on and remedy them before they get worse. During an inspection, check the deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, bolts, and grip tape for cracks or other signs of damage. If you notice a damaged part, repair or replace it immediately.
Keep It Clean
Your longboard can pick up grime from your shoes and the surrounding environment. To prevent rust, scratches, and other issues caused by dirt and debris, you should clean your board frequently.
You can use a nylon brush, water, and soap to clean your board's grip tape, a damp sponge to rinse it, and a soft towel to dry it. To clean the bearings, remove them from the wheels, soak them in a solvent or alcohol, and then dry them with a hair dryer set to high.
Store It Appropriately
Step three in our five-step easy-to-follow longboard maintenance checklist is to store your longboard in appropriate conditions. When you're not using your longboard, you should store it in a cool, dry place—preferably inside your home.
Lubricate Its Bearings
In the center of your long board's wheels, there are small metal parts that spin as you skate. These parts are the bearings, and you must occasionally lubricate them using a light oil to keep them running smoothly.
Lubricating the bearings is easy; remove the wheels, wipe the bearings clean with a rag, then apply a few drops of oil to each bearing and rub it in using your fingers.
Replace Its Wheels
Your longboard's wheels will wear down with time and use. If there are noticeable flat marks on the wheels, or if your longboard vibrates during skating sessions, you should remove the current wheels and replace them with new ones.
While all longboards require care, some boards are less maintenance-intensive than others. High-quality boards will inevitably hold up better than boards made with cheap parts and poor craftsmanship. If you need a reliable board that can withstand heavy use, consider investing in a Sector 9 longboard. Known for their high performance, these boards are some of the most popular on the market. The Longboard Store has a variety of Sector 9 longboards for sale; shop today to find one that suits your longboarding needs.