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Beginner's series | How to Maintain Your Skateboard

How to Maintain Your Skateboard: Simple Tips from the Longtimers

Skateboards take a beating — especially if you’re skating Montreal streets, rough pavement, or the park every day. A little regular maintenance keeps your board rolling smooth, turning right, and lasting way longer. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned skater, here are some easy skateboard maintenance tips to keep your setup feeling new.

    1. Clean Your Grip Tape

    If your grip looks more brown than black, it’s time to clean it. Grip tape gets covered in dust, shoe rubber, and city grime fast. Use a grip tape cleaner (or a piece of natural rubber like “Grip Gum”) to scrub off dirt. Work from nose to tail using short strokes. For really stuck-on spots, you can use a soft wire brush or toothbrush with a tiny bit of water — but don’t soak your deck. Moisture can weaken the glue layers and shorten your board’s life.

    2. Clean and Oil Your Bearings

    If your board’s starting to sound crunchy or roll slower than usual, your bearings are probably dirty. Pop your wheels off, remove the bearings, and wipe off any dust or grime. Use a bearing cleaner or rubbing alcohol, let them dry completely, and then add a few drops of bearing oil or speed cream. Avoid WD-40 — it strips the lubricant instead of protecting it. Clean, oiled bearings make your skateboard roll smoother and last longer.

    3. Tighten or Replace Your Hardware

    Loose bolts can make your trucks shift or rattle, and stripped bolts are a pain. Every few sessions, give your setup a quick once-over with a skate tool. Tighten any loose hardware and replace anything that’s rusted or stripped. Fresh bolts don’t cost much and keep your board solid — no weird creaks or wobbles. Here, a good skate tool is your friend!

    4. Change Your Bushings

    If your turns feel off, your bushings might be shot. Bushings are the small rubbery cushions inside your trucks that control how they turn. Over time, they crack or flatten out. When that happens, your board might start squeaking or feel stiff. Swapping in new bushings can completely change how your board rides — you’ll notice the difference right away.

    5. Replace Your Pivot Cups

    Pivot cups are the small inserts where your truck’s hanger meets the baseplate. They wear down slowly, so most skaters forget about them until the board starts feeling wobbly or loose no matter how tight the trucks are. Replacing pivot cups is cheap and gives your trucks a smoother, more responsive feel.

    6. Rotate Your Wheels

    Uneven wheels are a classic sign of heavy skating. To make them last longer, some skaters like to rotate their wheels every few weeks. You can swap them diagonally — front left to back right, and front right to back left. While we consider this more optional than a must, it does help your wheels wear evenly and keeps your ride balanced. It’s one of the easiest ways to make your setup feel new again.

    7. Avoid Rain and Snow

    Don’t skate in the rain or snow unless you absolutely have to. Water is your board’s worst enemy — it causes your deck to warp, bearings to rust, and grip tape to peel. If your board does get wet, dry it off completely and let it air out indoors. Then re-oil your bearings so they don’t seize up. Montreal winters are brutal, but your board doesn’t have to be. 

    8. Maintaining Your Collector Boards

    If you’ve got collector decks hanging on the wall or stored away, a little care goes a long way in keeping them in mint condition.

    • Be mindful of humidity levels. Too much moisture in the air can cause the wood to warp over time. If possible, store them in a room with stable humidity (around 40–50%).
    • Remove shrink wrap. It might seem like it protects your deck, but over time it can cause shrink burn — visible marks or warping where the plastic tightens against the wood.
    • Keep them out of direct sunlight. UV light can fade graphics or discolor the veneer.
    • Display with care. Use wall mounts or racks that support the board evenly, so pressure doesn’t warp the shape.

    Even if you’re not skating them, collector boards deserve a little maintenance love, too.

    Final Thoughts: Keep Your Board Alive

    Learning how to maintain your skateboard isn’t hard — it’s just about doing small things regularly. Clean your bearings, tighten your bolts, protect your deck from moisture, and keep your prized walls decks safe. Whether you’re skating daily or just starting out, these small steps help every skateboard last longer and ride (+ look) its best.