SPORT: CBD & SURFING AT THE OLYMPICS
Cannabis & surfing – somehow, the two seem to have become culturally entwined over the decades. But for today’s surfing Olympians, Cannabis may be the key to help them hit their peak and achieve gold. Let’s drop in...
Your stereotypical image of a surfer may be that of a tanned long-blond, getting high on the beach just waiting for the wind to turn off-shore. And OK, there may be a few of those, but after decades of lobbying by the global surfing community, the Olympic Committee (OC) has finally sanctioned this iconic sport that was once the preserve of Hawaiian kings and hardcore surf rats, into the Olympic history books.
So, for the very first time, an Olympic surfing event was held on Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba Province, Japan, where 20 men and 20 women thrashed it out in the shortboard competition.
Judged by a team of five, the scoring system was based on criteria that reflects the core elements of the sport; including degree of difficulty, variety of innovative manoeuvres, speed, power and flow.
It was surprising that tech savvy Japan did not opt for the new generation of wave pools, where every surfer gets exactly the same wave to demonstrate their skills, instead of the relatively small and funky waves coming in off the Pacific in the summertime. And because of the conditions, tactical wave selection proved to be more crucial for getting on the podium than nailing the best moves.
CBD OK’d for Olympic athletes
But perhaps, more surprising and more radical than a frontside 360, was the green light given by the OC for Cannabis to also debut at the 2020 (‘21?) Japan Olympics in the form of cannabidiol (CBD).
Bearing in mind, that pretty much anything more than a jar of Tiger Balm and you will be out of the Games faster than Usain Bolt in the 100m, this was a major milestone in the acceptance of CBD and cannabinoids in general. But today’s competitor is not turning to Cannabis to get high; but to get high up in the medals.
And it can’t have escaped your attention how CBD for health and wellness has exploded onto the global sports arena of late, with one sports star after another from basketball to rugby or golf, lining up to proclaim the benefits of CBD.
But as finding official science that backs up these claims, is harder to come by than a kosher lab test report from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, what are the benefits of CBD oil when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle?
Why athletes may use CBD
The science is still coming in on CBD and Cannabis in general, but that is a result of restrictive government policies, which to the detriment of the people’s health and well-being, have limited research into the potential medicinal applications of the Cannabis plant.
In the meantime, it seems everyone from Olympians to weekend warriors are drawing their own conclusions and deciding to self-care with CBD as a natural alternative for pain relief and inflammation.
And persistent pain is perhaps the most common complaint of any athlete (and many non-athletes). Extensive exercise can put your body under enormous stresses, whether its post-work out aches and pains known as DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) or neuropathic pain from repetitive irritation of peripheral nerves, most pre-clinical studies would appear to back CBD’s anti-inflammatory, pain relieving and also its antioxidant properties.
Prepare, compete & recover better with CBD
It is generally accepted that CBD indirectly modulates our endo-cannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis and balance throughout our body. The ECS itself, is connected to multiple other signaling pathways, including the central nervous system and the endocrine system and so may impact our mood, sleep and well-being, in addition to managing our pain response.[1]
And it's these potential physiological, psychological & bio-chemical effects of CBD that may benefit athletes in the form of increased performance.[2] With such a broad range of effects, could CBD help Olympians with other aspects of competition life, such as:
Immunity
There has been some research which suggests that athletes can experience a decrease in their immunity and have an increased risk of developing acute illnesses, as a direct result. A number of factors can play a part in this phenomenon such as psychological stress, disturbed sleep, long-haul travel and exposure to new environments.
And it is perhaps surfers more than most, who are likely to enter some extreme and hostile environments where gastroenteritis; ear, nose & throat infections and eye infections are all too common and in extreme cases long-term health issues can be a result of raw sewage dumps.
And in 2022, raw sewage was released into English rivers and seas 825 times a day on average, which adds a whole new meaning to riding the tube.
Anxiety
Even the best Olympian will have suffered from high levels of stress leading up to the event, this is known as Sports Performance Anxiety and can be severely detrimental to athletic performance. Confidence is key, knowing you have already won before you step out, is the winner’s mantra and anxiety is not conducive to that mindset. With increased anxiety, the body can be put under stress leading to a loss of sleep, lower nutritional intake and physical symptoms.
Post-event stress
Managing the massive surge of adrenaline and the physical and psychological stress of competition can impact on your recovery. Allowing the body to heal and the mind to relax and unwind is essential. Letting sore, damaged or inflamed muscles repair fully in time for your next qualifier will help avoid injury and ensure optimal performance.
Sleep quality
Good quality sleep is essential when it comes to recovery and your health in general. When you enter a state of deep sleep, your body produces a protein called human growth hormone. This protein plays an essential role in repairing tissue and muscles, which will aid in your recovery process.
Getting good sleep will help across the board from improving your reaction time, speed up recovery time and ensure your immune system and your ECS also performs at a high standard.
Getting downtime
In addition to getting enough sleep, taking the time to engage in other pastimes and switch off is also a key part of sports recovery. This downtime can improve muscle recovery, as well as ensure that you are in the right frame of mind for the next qualifier. If the mind and body are not relaxed, it’s almost impossible for recovery to happen and that will directly impact your performance next time you’re on.
CBD for health
Obviously, there is far more to winning than the competing - anxiety, stress, relaxation and sleep are all in the mix and need to be managed effectively. But these are all common reasons cited by consumers for taking CBD.[3]
And if Olympians and sports stars, who have access to the top nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists and physicians are including cannabinoids like CBD into their regime, then could it help us mere mortals in the gym or on the mat?
Clearly more research is needed and that can only be a good thing, as it will allow consumers to have more confidence of the best possible interaction.
But that doesn’t seem to stop millions of people from supplementing with CBD and managing to find their way around what works for them, some more successfully than others and that can often be because the correct dose is not administered. If you are thinking of taking CBD oil to improve your wellbeing, do take some time to research it, but here are 5 key takeaways that may help at the start of your CBD journey:
- CBD oil can be taken in many different forms and not all work as effectively as others.
- CBD oil in the presence of other cannabinoids and fellow terpenes is more effective than CBD isolate based products.
- It can take 2-3 weeks (sometimes more) before you feel the full effects. Start low and build up slowly during this time until you find the dose that works for you and then stick with it.
- CBD oil needs to be taken several times a day and consistently to access its full benefits. A CBD vape pen is easiest for this.
- Good products come with a lab report or “Coa” – always!
Sport and CBD: A winning formula
In the end, destiny beckoned for Carissa Moore (USA) and Italo Ferreira (Brazil) whose dedication, training and intense preparations peaked just at the right time, along with some half decent waves to become surfing’s first Olympic gold medalists.
And although there were some good surfing skills on display in Japan, it’s going to be nothing short of spectacular at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. That is because, the Olympic shortboard contest will be held off the French island of Tahiti.
The surfers won’t have to worry about small and funky waves here, but instead find their thoughts focused on the immensely powerful and terrifyingly shallow reef break that they will face. And should any competitor be unlucky enough to miss their take-off in Tahiti, it’s not a CBD vape pen they will be needing, but an air ambulance.
At NECTR we craft cannabinoid products for all active lifestyles, including surfers*
Our CBD and CBG rich distillate and extracts are THC free to less than 0.0%, so you can get all of the potential health benefits of Cannabis and remain 100% focused. Meticulously formulated with real Cannabis-derived terpenes and optimised with active botanical extracts, so you can feel like a winner, even if you didn’t get a medal.
*Disclaimer: CBD will not make you a better surfer, dude 😉
References
[1] Manzanares et al - Role of the Cannabinoid System in Pain Control and Therapeutic Implications for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Episodes, Current Neuropharmacology (2006)
[2] McCartney et al - Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: a Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research, Sports Medicine (2020)
[3] Moltke & Hindocha - Reasons for cannabidiol use: a cross-sectional study of CBD users, focusing on self-perceived stress, anxiety, and sleep problems. Journal of Cannabis Research (2021)