Ross Rebagliati

Rebagliati was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. After turning pro in 1991, he was the first ever to win an Olympic gold medal for Men's Snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics. After winning the gold, he was found to have Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his circulatory system following a blood test and he was automatically disqualified. This decision was eventually overturned, largely on the basis that marijuana was not on the list of banned substances, and Rebagliati was given back the medal. The next day he appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and became an instant icon to many globally.[2] THC has since been listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as a banned substance. In 2013 however, WADA amended its rules on cannabis, raising the threshold for a positive test from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 150 ng/ml. In 1998 at the Nagano Games, Rebagliati recorded a level of 17.8 ng/ml, and argued the test resulted from second-hand smoke, which he continues to maintain. Ben Nichols, a spokesperson for WADA, said the raising of the threshold is meant to catch only athletes who smoke during the period of a competition. The drug isn't prohibited out of competition.[3]

Since that day, Ross has become a cultural phenomenon in the marijuana world and is an outspoken advocate of medical cannabis. Rebagliati has been involved in multimillion-dollar real estate development projects throughout British Columbia, as well as residential construction.[4] Rebagliati was the subject of full-page coverage in the July 14, 2008 edition of Sports Illustrated, which profiled his life since his Olympic win.

Ross has been able to take his love of the great sport to reach out to the youth in the community. As a member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Ross helped grant wishes of children as far away as Florida. Ross has worked with other charities including the Whistler Rotary Club, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, Kids Help Phone and The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.[5]

On October 23, 2009, Rebagliati announced that he would seek the federal Liberal Party nomination for the Okanagan—Coquihalla riding, in British Columbia. At the time, political observers suggested that this could be a tough challenge for the former Olympian, as the seat was held by Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day.[6] Eventually he bowed out as his business ventures brought him home to Whistler.

According to the Washington Post, there is widespread agreement that marijuana can put users in a relaxed and positive frame of mind (although some can experience feelings of anxiety and paranoia), and for that reason, it can be considered a performance-enhancing drug, providing an athlete serenity and confidence he or she might not otherwise have had.[7] A 2006 article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine stated that THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, “engenders a certain heaviness, marked relaxation, and excessive fatigue of the limbs.” The article also noted that, because the product is usually smoked, that practice can have “detrimental effects on the lungs, oral cavity and upper respiratory tract.” [8]

Ross Rebagliati is a firm believer that cannabis is a performance enhancer, and that usage can be helpful for some activities such as extreme sports, as it improves muscle relaxation, reduces anxiety, and extincts fear memories (e.g., negative experiences) leading to enhanced performance. It may also improve sleep time and recovery, which may favour performance when an athlete is facing multiple competitions in a short period of time.[9]

Ross Rebagliati believes that Cannabis has many benefits of which CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the biggest. CBD has very powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Reducing inflammation helps to better manage the aches and pains an athlete’s body chronically endures. It also has a calming effect reducing stress and anxiety which are two more realities of being an athlete.[10]

In January 2013, Rebagliati and his business partner, Patrick Smyth, launched Ross' Gold, a medical marijuana business. Ross' Gold's primary focus remains on establishing a brand in Canada and gaining a foothold in the industry under the federal government's new regulations. Under the new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, cannabis would be treated as any other narcotic used for medical purposes, enabling patients to acquire products as needed based on a health-care practitioner's prescription.[11]

Since announcing the launch of Ross' Gold medical marijuana, Rebagliati has been featured in numerous publications including USA Today,[12] the Huffington Post,[13] the CBC with Jian Ghomeshi,[14] The Toronto Sun,[15] and the cover of High Times in October 2013.[16]

In April 2015, Ross launched his own line of glassware and expanded his brand into over 100 stores across Canada,[17] and branched out into Hemp CB edibles.[18]

During the Canadian Federal election of 2015, he commented that he looked forward to the new Liberal government fulfilling its promise to legalize marijuana in Canada. He told the CBC, "I mean, to think I can be involved in helping people and sharing the knowledge that I have and a lot of people have about cannabis to the mainstream public. I think it's my responsibility." [19]

In December 2017, R Gold Enterprises Inc. bought the Ross' Gold Trademark and focussed on building franchised stores under the new legalization of cannabis laws in Canada.

In January 2018, Ross and his business partner Patrick Smyth founded Legacy Brands by Ross Rebagliati is “A Growing Lifestyle©” that promotes healthily living and finding that athlete in us all through everyday family-friendly products. Focussing on CBD products, Ross stated “Canadians are opening up more and more to cannabis, and many older people are really understanding as to the benefits of CBD; which is used to treat medical conditions like epilepsy. It is gaining favour among athletes and the public alike. Unlike other extracts, CBD is not psychoactive and is used for sleep regulation, inflammation, and anxiety. “We are excited. We feel the rest of the country will adopt a healthy use of cannabis in the coming years." [20]

The New York Times Saturday Profile published an article on Ross in November 2018 where he noted that he is happy that marijuana is losing its stigma, even in the world of sports. “Athletes love cannabis because, among other things, it improves concentration and is fat-free and calorie-free.” [21]

Ross is the father of three children and resides in Kelowna, British Columbia with his wife.[22] In addition to being a Canadian citizen, Ross is also an Italian citizen.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ross Rebagliati.

• Ross Rebagliati's Official Website
• Ross Rebagliati's Facebook
• Ross Rebagliati's Corporate Website Ross' Gold
• Ross Rebagliati's Corporate Website Legacy by Ross Rebagliati
• Ross' Gold Instagram Account
• Ross' Gold Twitter Account