In the evolving world of adventure sports, a unique amalgamation has surfaced, one that combines the thrill of downhill skiing and snowboarding with cannabis consumption.
This fusion might seem counterintuitive, but many participants cite its effects on their performance and overall experience.
Let’s find out why skiers and snowboarders make this choice, the emergent motivations behind it, and the impact it has on their mountainous escapades.
Cannabis: An Unlikely Companion to Mountain Sports
Among the skiers and snowboarders who use cannabis, the motives seem to align around a specific goal: to enhance the overall experience by altering their mental state.
Participants in one study stated that cannabis helps in focusing their attention more acutely, either internally towards their bodily movements and sensations, or externally towards the terrain and their immediate social surroundings.
However, it’s crucial to highlight that these two states of focus are not mutually exclusive and may fluctuate based on the context of use.
The Internal Focus: Enhanced Bodily Perception
For those who steer their attention inwards, marijuana enhances their self-consciousness, not in a negative sense, but as an increased awareness of their body and its movements.
This heightened bodily perception helps in improving their form and the way they navigate downhill, enabling them to be more in sync with their actions and reactions.
Some users have also reported cannabis helping to manage pain and soreness during their activity.
Described as a ‘body high’, this internal awareness allows individuals to tap into their muscle-memory more consciously, giving them a deeper sense of involvement with their body’s performance.
The External Focus: Immersion in Terrain and Social Context
On the other hand, those who direct their attention externally experience a loss of self-consciousness and a heightened focus on their environment.
This state is characterized by a deeper connection with the terrain and the immediate task at hand, often leading to spontaneous, confident decisions and effortless efficacy.
This increased external awareness can be equated to achieving a ‘flow’ state, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It involves complete absorption in the task at hand, bringing an almost automatic, intuitive interaction with the terrain.
This state is often associated with social skiing and is reported to be more likely with certain strains of weed that promote an energetic, interpretive perception of the surrounding world.
Strain Specificity: The Indica-Sativa Dichotomy
A significant finding from the study was the distinction users made between the effects of different marijuana strains, specifically Indica and Sativa.
Though scientific literature offers little evidence to this dichotomy, it seems that users’ experiences and expectations create a unique cultural distinction between the two.
Many participants associated the ‘body high’ with Indica strains and the ‘head high’ with Sativa, demonstrating how discourse and cultural beliefs can shape the perceived effects of cannabis.
The Social Component of Cannabis in Mountain Sports
Beyond enhancing individual experience, cannabis also introduces a unique social element to skiing and snowboarding. It offers participants an opportunity to pause, rest, and discuss their runs while sharing a joint, fostering camaraderie and a shared sense of experience.
The ritual of smoking weed provides both a physical break and a tool to facilitate conversations about the terrain, strategies, and experiences.
The Functional Use of Cannabis in Mountain Sports
The use of cannabis in skiing and snowboarding offers both an enhanced internal and external focus on the downhill experience.
Depending on the social setting, strain, and individual preferences, users might focus more on the internal sensations and perceptions or the external terrain and interaction.
This unconventional pairing challenges traditional views on cannabis use, showcasing its potential functional use in adventure sports.
As we continue to understand the intersection of cannabis and sports, it’s clear that participants are seeking ways to deepen their experience and engagement in the activities they love.
