WSL Finally Embraces The Devil’s Lettuce!

And finally, at the ripe old age of 43, the WSL has had its first cannabinoidal experience. 

This makes the Wozzle the eldest non-Mormon (or so they claim) surfing entity to sample the devil’s lettuce, or at least its non-psychoactive extract, CBD. 

Announced today via newsletter, the WSL’s Jaws Big Wave Championship will be sponsored by cbdMD, a big swinging dick in the expansive CBD marketplace. cbdMD already sponsors individual surfers such as Nathan Florence, Makua Rothman, and Jamie O’Brien, but their move to sponsor a WSL Big Wave event is huge news for two reasons.

1. It means that cbdMD is fucking crushing it, as WSL event sponsorships are well within the seven-figure range for title-naming rights, and…
2. After years of disdain for surfing’s seedy subculture, the WSL is now accepting marijuana as a morally righteous substance, at least in its non-psychoactive state (it should be noted that the ingestion of THC is still against WADA regulations, which means that if WSL athletes are caught with it in their system, they can be kicked off any tour, Big Wave included).

For those who’ve completely disregarded pop culture over the last 12 months, cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound found in marijuana that retains low-enough levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as not to get the user “high.” CBD is becoming widely legalized, even in non-weed-legal states, for both medical and recreational use. CBD’s primary function is to provide the benefits of “traditional marijuana use”—decreased inflammation, pain relief, increased appetite, etc.—without the psychoactive effects. It typically comes in the form of an oil/serum and is ingested orally or absorbed through the skin.

Have you tried this cherished compound? Would you say it fits more into the miracle-or-snake-oil department?

Anyway, the Jaws and Nazaré rosters were also released today. Competitors include:

cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships Competitor List:

Women’s Division 
Paige Alms (HAW)
Justine Dupont (FRA)
Emily Erickson (HAW)
Raquel Heckert (BRA)
Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Andrea Moller (BRA)
Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Bianca Valenti (USA)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD

Men’s Division 
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Alex Botelho (PRT)
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Lucas Chianca (BRA)
Trevor Carlson (HAW)
Nathan Florence (HAW)
Natxo Gonzalez (EUK)
Greg Long (USA)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Billy Kemper (HAW)
Kai Lenny (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Tyler Larronde (HAW)
Nic Lamb (USA)
Tom Lowe (GBR)
Torrey Meister (HAW)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Jojo Roper (USA)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Nic von Rupp (PRT)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD

Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge presented by Jogos Santa Casa Competitor List:
Team World: Sebastian Steudtner (DEU) & Maya Gabeira (BRA)
Team Brasil: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) & Pedro Scooby (BRA)
Team Great Britain: Andrew Cotton (GBR) & Tom Butler (GBR)
Team Australia: Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) & Mick Corbett (AUS)
Team Portugal: Alex Botelho (PRT) & Hugo Vau (PRT)
Team Young Bulls: Lucas Chianca (BRA) & Kai Lenny (HAW)
Team Europe: Nic von Rupp (PRT) & Francisco Porcella (ITA)
Team France: Benjamin Sanchis (FRA) & Eric Rebiere (FRA)
Team Atlantic: Grant Baker (ZAF) & Antonio Silva (PRT)
Team Justine: Justine Dupont (FRA) surfer only/Fred David driver only