The Attitude Towards Hemp & CBD – Vorarlberg Kitesurfer and Mental Coach Daniel Fritz

Hemp & CBD in Sports: Recovery, Amino Acids, and Natural Power

Daniel, you are an athlete and mental coach. These two areas seem to go hand in hand. How did you come to mental coaching beyond that? I have been interested in this topic for years - as a footballer, we dealt a lot with mental training in Switzerland and also in Vienna. Now as a kitesurfer, I find this topic very important as well, because for daring jumps and tricks, one must be mentally at the top level. What mental strength means professionally and privately has also become clearer to me: If you find yourself in a difficult situation, for example, a strong mind helps tackle the situation correctly and keep a cool head. And at the latest, when you get to find out what is possible on a spiritual and physical level, you realize how exciting this topic is. Today, I can share my experiences as a mental coach in a large company here in Vorarlberg, but also privately.

How does mental coaching enrich everyday life? Acting correctly in stressful situations: that alone is mental training. Whether as a private individual or as a leader in a company, you often find yourself in situations where you don't know how to proceed. However, if you are mentally strengthened, you can better master these problems.

Why is mental fitness so important in sports? Mental training in sports is the key to the “complete” athlete, because in addition to physical performance such as strength & endurance, the psychological component of “performance under pressure & goal focus” plays a crucial role. In order to execute my tricks and jumps while kitesurfing without injury, I must visualize them beforehand. Some may have noticed what ski racers do before the start: They visualize the entire run. That is exactly what mental training is. When you imagine performing a specific movement, the same parts of your brain are activated that are active when executing the movement itself. The more often and more detailed you visualize a movement sequence, the easier it will be for you to actually perform those movements.

So you believe in a direct relationship between physical and mental health. What role does nutrition play? In my opinion, nutrition plays a very important role. Experts talk about an 80/20 formula: Nutrition accounts for 80% and training for 20%. I would agree with that. Since I spend a lot of time on the water and training from March to October, I physically and mentally challenge my body a lot, which is why recovery is incredibly important to me. Healthy and balanced nutrition greatly promotes recovery. However, that doesn’t mean that after a good and long training session on the water, I won’t treat myself to a pizza. But even there it applies: "eat consciously" - and here we are back in mental training.

How did you learn about the benefits that hemp offers and what added value does “green power” have for you as an athlete? What particularly stood out to you? I first heard about it from a friend who is also a kitesurfer. He has long sworn by the hemp plant and only calls it the “healing plant.” At first, I was a bit skeptical, but my skepticism faded when I had the opportunity to try a product. From that point on, I became more and more interested in this topic. I particularly noticed that externally applied CBD oils promote recovery. After applying and massaging the HANAFSAN CBD oil on larger areas of skin, I was really positively surprised. The next day, I was significantly more resilient. The hemp protein helps me optimally supply my body with amino acids and fiber. As an athlete, I searched for a long time for a suitable product that gives me a good feeling and power. Since I value regionality, plant origin, and naturalness very much, the HANAFSAN products ultimately convinced me completely, and I am even more pleased about the collaboration with HANAFSAN.

Image sources: © Daniel Fritz