As summer days grow into cold winter afternoons, you'll probably be skateboarding less and less. Depending on where you live, skateboarding might be out of the question entirely during the winter months. By storing your skateboard properly over the winter, you'll be able to enjoy riding again as soon as the warmer temperatures return.
Winter is known for cold, wet weather, and this can wreak havoc on skateboards left outside. Never leave your skateboard in the elements for any length of time, even just overnight. It's especially important not to leave them there all winter long.
Wherever you store your skateboard, make sure that it remains dry and relatively warm. Very cold temperatures, very hot temperatures, and humid or wet storage areas can actually damage your skateboard more than you might realize. For example, the grip tape may peel right off the deck if your skateboard is stored somewhere damp, and the finish might start to look a little funny. If it is stored in a wet area for too long, your skateboard can even become warped and unusable. Extreme changes between cold and hot storage locations can damage your skateboard quickly. Wooden skateboard decks can even crack under these circumstances, and rubber wheels will become brittle when stored in these conditions over time.
While your skateboard is in storage, take this opportunity to inspect all parts of the board, making any necessary repairs or upgrades. Though it my seem silly to repair your skateboard only to store it away for the next few months, this way you won't have to waste your time doing this in the springtime when you could be out riding instead. By fixing these issues before you store your skateboard, you'll be ready to go as soon as the weather is nice enough for skating.
When you do bring your skateboard indoors, make sure that it is stored somewhere where it won't be tripped over, stepped on, or otherwise get in the way. Store it off the floor, in a rack designed specifically for skateboards, to ensure that it will be in the same condition when you're ready to ride in the spring as when you stored it away in the winter. This will keep your board off the floor and away from harm. A skateboard storage system is also a great solution for day-to-day storage of your skateboard, not just long-term storage.
If you are passionate about skateboarding, then you've probably invested a lot of time and money in the perfect skateboard, with the highest quality deck, trucks, wheels, and other components. If you want this skateboard to last more than a year or two, you must take very good care of it. Otherwise, it may get ruined during the off-season, and you will have to buy a new skateboard before you can ride again. Though you probably take good care of it throughout the parts of the year when you're riding it, too many skateboarders just throw their skateboard on the back patio, in the garage, or on the floor of their bedroom when it gets too cold and rainy to keep riding it.
