CBD and Olympic Skateboarding

Cannabidiol and CBD-infused products have recently become a wellness trend in the sports world. CBD is natural, non-toxic, and has many potential benefits for athletes. Numerous studies suggest CBD's benefits for the training-induced pain and inflammation, anxiety, lack of energy, and focus. Hundreds of CBD products hit the shelves, so now you can choose the most appropriate concentration and product for your skateboarding routine! Of course, our recommendation is from an isolate form of CBD like the one found in our nano-amplified hemp extract in HempBoost.

“The only things skaters have ever used for pain relief is Advil or Tylenol from CVS,” former pro skater Matt Miller told Merry Jane. “I think that’s part of the reason why cannabis is so accepted in skateboarding; we don’t typically use anything else to help recover from all of the pain we go through.”

Perhaps the most famous skater in the world, Tony Hawk, just entered a partnership with CBD brand to deliver a line of hemp-derived products. CBD isn’t just useful for injuries, but also the mental aspect of the sport. For instance, Aaron “Jaws” Homoki uses his CBD sponsor products to help himself before attempting one of the steep rooftop jumps or endless staircase grinds he’s known for.

Is CBD For Athletes Legal?

Anyone remotely involved in sports should know the seriousness of getting involved and testing positive for drugs in a competitive situation. The NCAA clarifies the list of banned drugs, which include performance-enhancing drugs (PED’s), stimulants, and cannabinoids. From marathon runners to hockey players, cannabinoids including CBD had been a banned substance within all athletic divisions. Not until recently has CBD or cannabidiol been made an exception and removed from the 2020 Prohibited In-Competition Substances in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is expected that CBD gains significantly broader approval moving forward but it is a good practice to verify with your particular regulatory body before ingesting any supplement.

What Is WADA?

The WADA is affiliated with the International Olympic Committee with the purpose to reduce doping within sports organizations and governments across the world. So, what does this mean for athletes? Well, CBD is now recognized internationally as a separate cannabinoid from marijuana, making it officially legal to use in any level of sports competitively without the fear of getting penalized. Marijuana is still a controlled substance within the United States and remains this way in the WADA, as well as any synthetic mimicking THC, like the new and popular cannabinoid, delta-8.

CBD for Skaters’ Swell-bows, Faceplants, and More

Skaters are more prone to injuries than most people would like to imagine: An estimated 65,000 skaters a year make emergency room visits in the U.S., which is fully 1 percent of the 6.5 million skaters in the country. That’s a lot of aches, pains, and jangled nerves — which are all areas where CBD could potentially prove useful.

The first-ever remedy for heel bruises?

The types of injuries that skaters pick up throughout a session aren’t the usual ones catered to by the world of medicine.

While there’s no scientific evidence to support the notion that CBD patches (or any form of CBD, for that matter) are more effective at healing bruised heels than conventional treatments, it’s a sufficient niche concern that a bit of anecdotal evidence could go a long way in winning converts.

It can help with the pre-jump jitters.

In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, skateboarding will have its debut on international sports’ biggest stage.

There is some scientific evidence to support the glowing anecdotes. CBD’s potential effects on anxiety have been relatively well-studied (at least as far as cannabis research is concerned), with multiple studies finding that it helps ease anxiety. Because of this, it is one of the most popular reasons people use CBD — according to a recent Gallup poll, 20 percent of CBD users say the cannabinoid helps relieve their anxiety*.

It helps with recovery, especially for older skaters.

Aside from its general pain-relieving qualities, one of the biggest benefits CBD could bring to skaters in terms of recovery is its ability to promote sleep* — the time during which the body conducts its most crucial repairs of muscles and other tissues. Studies have indicated that, by activating the CB2 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, CBD could both prolong sleep and enhance its quality, giving the aging skaters like Miller a better shot at waking up with enough oomph to finally land that one weird trick.

Conclusion

The majority of athletes now have grown curious about CBD or are immediately pumped at what it has to offer for sports-related activities. It is no surprise that many athletes are ready to incorporate CBD into their workout recovery, wellness, and sports routine.