You haven't ridden much over the winter and, given your riding style, you rarely need a new deck anyway? But you want to get back into it in the spring, and the grip tape isn't gripping as well as it should? Or maybe your shoes got a little dirty during your last session in the fall and the sight of your grip tape is just frustrating you? Then maybe you should just give your deck a new layer of grip tape! It costs next to nothing and can give you a real boost of motivation, even with an older deck.
Here's how it works:
First, unscrew the axles! Then proceed as follows:
-Hair dryer or hot air gun (a hair dryer is usually sufficient)
-Lift the corner of the grip tape
-Continue heating while pulling
-Peel off slowly and flat (do not jerk)
After removing the old grip tape, adhesive residue often remains on the deck. You should remove this so that the new layer of grip tape sticks cleanly and, above all, evenly:
Best options:
-Griptape rubber (Grip Gum)
-or sandpaper (120–180) lightly rubbed over the area
-or rubbing alcohol/isopropanol on a cloth
After applying the new grip tape, you should sand down the edges a little to remove any remaining residue. Not only does this look cleaner, but it also prevents the tape from tearing in uneven areas.
