Roller skating is one of the more maligned sports out there, even though it’s far safer than basketball and football. People usually raise their concerns about the potential of falling while skating, especially when someone is just starting out or when they are skating on the wrong terrain.
Assuming that you don’t have any serious bone or joint-related problems, taking a spill will not usually cause serious damage. This is especially true if you’re skating around a roller rink, not doing any wild tricks, and wear protective gear. After all, there are reasons why roller rinks make a point of offering up safety tips.
With that said, outdoor skating is a fairly popular endeavor. However, it’s got its reputation for being more accident-prone with good reason.
Outdoor Skating: Naturally More Dangerous
Choosing the right outdoor areas is crucial to making sure you’re safe. With outdoor skating, you don’t have the smooth pavement and guardrails that roller rinks offer. This can lead to tripping over rocky outcropping, losing your balance on sidewalks, as well as getting your skate stuck in mud.
To make things easier on skaters and help prevent damage, roller skate makers created outdoor wheels to help cushion the blow of bumps along the way. The heaviness and softness of outdoor skates can also help weigh down the skater, giving the skater a little more weight to overcome crazy slopes.
Though outdoor skates can always mitigate some of the risks, they can’t mitigate all the risks. For example, skating near heavy traffic is something that can only happen outdoors. Should you fall and get hit by a truck, you could end up with far more damage than is feasible in a rink. And yet, there’s another outdoor danger that’s often overlooked: rain.
Why Rain Can Be A Danger To Roller Skaters
There’s a good reason why you don’t really see open-air roller skating rinks. That’s because of the danger that rain can pose. Rain is known for making all types of terrain slippery, and that includes the sidewalks and streets roller skaters tend to enjoy.
How Does Rain Affect Your Roller Skating Session?
Rain’s tendency of making surfaces slippery can have a huge impact on roller skaters—even if they don’t necessarily notice it right off the bat. Rain will cause the following changes to your skating session:
- Getting traction on the ground will be harder. Rain makes it easier for your roller skates to slip on the ground, even when it comes to something as simple as pushing yourself forward. This can easily lead to sudden falls if you angle yourself the wrong way.
- Turns may take longer. Because of the slippery terrain, a roller skating turn may need a wider radius to be done safely. Moreover, turns need to be done slower in the rain.
- Making your skates stop will also take longer. Since the terrain is more slippery, any skater who decides to make the poor decision to skate in the rain will have to slow down for a longer period of time. This can lead to bumps and falls.
- Keeping balance can also be a pain. Have you ever driven a car through a rain puddle? If so, you might have noticed that your car hydroplaned and “caught” some of the water, knocking it off balance. Though you won’t necessarily hydroplane, water can throw you off balance if you decide to skate through a puddle.
- There’s a chance you might also be unable to see dangers. When terrain is try, you can always spot potholes. If it’s rained heavily, the rain can disguise potholes as a simple puddle instead. This can lead you skating straight into a pothole.
How Does Rain Affect Your Roller Skates?
Rain already poses a serious threat to your stability on skates, but did you know it also can cause damage to your roller skates, too? It’s true. Water can ruin leather on the shoe part of your skate, promote mold growth inside your shoes, and also cause rust damage to your bearings.
Simply put, water and skates don’t mix. It’s like putting your skates in the rain and walking away. Your skates will get water damage, even if your feet are in them.
Should You Skate In The Rain?
The answer is a firm no. It’s pretty dangerous and can lead to serious accidents. However, if you are really willing to risk it, you can take a chance in the rain. Just, don’t say we didn’t warn you if you end up getting hurt.
How To Protect Yourself While Skating In The Rain
If you choose to take a risk and venture out into the rain while wearing roller skates, you should make an effort to at least try to skate safely. These tips below will reduce your chances of having a serious fall.
- Avoid skating on streets and sidewalks. Streets and sidewalks mean that you are most likely in an area where cars, trucks, and buses are driving through. If you end up slipping during the moment a car passes by, you could end up with a lethal accident.
- Don’t skate on marbled ground, painted surfaces, or unusually smooth surfaces. Places like tennis courts,for example, may not be able to carry enough traction to be capable of holding skates well. Marbled ground is known for being ultra-slippery, and should only be traversed in a straight line.
- Always wear as much protective gear as you can afford while in the rain. Since the risk is bigger, you need to make a point of getting protection to match that risk. In other words, now is not the time to avoid wearing a helmet.
- Don’t skate near piles of leaves. Leaves can help hide potholes as well as other risks. They also can clog up skates, causing you to trip up on your own feet. On a similar note, don’t skate near muddy or extra grimy areas. The rain can turn that terrain into a mudslide.
- Avoid skating over puddles you can’t see the bottom of. Sure, that puddle could just be muddy water in a shallow dip, but you don’t know that for sure. For all you know, it could be a three-inch deep pothole. Your best bet is to play it safe and skate around it.
- Keep your eyes on the ground and ahead of you. You need to maintain extra awareness if you want to stay safe in the rain.
- Do not go downhill in roller skates in the rain. Or at the very least, know that you can brake well before hand. Rain plus downhill action is a good way to make yourself fall forward due to a braking accident.
- Use extra soft wheels when you go out in the rain. Though you could technically use indoor wheels outside in dry weather, this isn’t the case when you’re dealing with rain. Switch out your wheels for a softer pair to help get a better grip on the terrain.
- Utilize a little common sense. Now is not the time to practice those neato skate tricks. Doing speedskating, taking sharp turns, or trying to show off your roller skate dance moves will likely land you in the hospital.
How Long Do You Have To Wait After Rain To Skate?
What most people don’t realize is that skating after rain can also be dangerous. After all, it can take a while for pavement to lose the slickness of rain. If you can’t wait to strap on your skates, hang tight. You still need to wait before it’s safe to go out skating.
You shouldn’t skate until all major puddles have been dried up. If you place your hand on the ground and still feel moisture, then you may have to wait a little longer. Don’t worry, though! Your local skate rink is probably open and ready to have you practice indoors, if you so choose.
Conclusion
When it comes to skating in the rain, it is possible to go outside and skate. People who are crazy about roller skating do it every year. However, it’s not a wise decision and carries a wide range of risks that can make your regular outing turn painful. So while you can roller skate in the rain, you really shouldn’t do so.
Roller skating in the rain skyrockets your chances of getting into a serious accident or sustaining an injury. It can even wreck your skates and cause problems with your roller skating safety equipment. With that said, you can still do it as long as you have the right wheels.
Should you make the decision to go outside for a skate session, make sure that you avoid terrain that puts you at risk of a fall. Use common sense, slow your skating style down, wear safety gear, and above all, avoid skating anywhere near cars. It may not be as fun as a typical outing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
