Consume and ride the waves!

In Biarritz and Nazaré, from Costa Rica to Hawaii and from Australia to the beaches of California, surfers have settled to ride some of the ocean’s best waves. It is estimated that there are between 17 and 35 million surfers worldwide who are passionate about the water, the board and the culture. Originating from ancient Polynesia, it spread worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s and continues to enjoy great popularity. It has influenced music, fashion, literature, film, art and language. Consuming and surfing are cultural phenomena.

And marijuana was worked into the ride, merging two iconic chill vibes. Members of Hawaii’s world-renowned surfer culture have a strong passion for smoking what locals call “pakalolo” — “paka” means “tobacco” and “lōlō” refers to the narcotic effects of THC.

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“Marijuana was the drug of choice for surfers and fit easily into mainstream surfing culture,” writes EoS’ Matt Warshaw. “Surfers prided themselves on being rebellious—not exactly criminal, but not compliant either—and weed was the perfect offense-level drug. Easy to grow, easy to buy, easy to transport, the pot appealed to the surfer’s do-it-yourself entrepreneurial spirit.”

Surfers are tied up during the ride and baked before or after. Surfers have a bit of a counterculture, but in today’s Insta world, even good local surfers have a large following. Unlike 10 years ago, you need to be up to date for your followers and the video. When you’re already a little savvy at surfing, it’s hard to tune into that split second that separates amateurs from enthusiasts.

From a scientific point of view, marijuana is not considered a performance-enhancing drug. However, it is still prohibited during competition. The selection of who is tested is made by the World Surfing League (WSL) and the International Surf Association (ISL), for both in-competition and non-competition testing. All surfers participating in a World Surfing League event can be tested at any time, be it at an event or even at their home.

Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

A small amount of cannabis eases the fear of the big surge. It can then be used on the beach to speed up muscle recovery and reduce tissue swelling. Water can be rough on the body.

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Not every surfer is like Spicoli on Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but kicking back after the waves, feet in the sand, and something to relax are still part of the scene.