U.S. Ski & Snowboard Applies for NGB Certification to Oversee Surfing

USA Surfing’s bid to be re-certified by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee this month is being challenged by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which has also filed a motion with the USOPC to be the sport’s national governing body.

The USOPC has scheduled public hearings with USA Surfing on April 10 and U.S. Ski & Snowboard on April 15. USA Surfing was de-certified in 2021 after governance and financial issues were discovered during a USOPC audit. The USOPC has managed the USA surf team in the interim including during the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris.

USA Surfing’s application in part reads “becoming an NGB would provide surfers with the highest level of support and expertise to elevate our sport’s power, athleticism and skill on the world’s largest sporting stage — the Olympic Games. We care about our athletes and we want to be in the best position to serve their needs. … The USOPC can have faith that we can and will carry out our obligations and handle our responsibilities fully.”

USA Surfing also said in its statement “the Ted Stevens Act prohibits an NGB from representing multiple international federations. Since (U.S. Ski & Snowboard) is already recognized by FIS (the International Ski Federation), it is legally ineligible to govern surfing.” While not certified as the national governing body by the USOPC, USA Surfing has retained recognition from the International Surf Association.

“The ISA strongly believes that a healthy, independent organization that truly represents the interests of surfers and the sport in the U.S. is essential as we look ahead to the LA28 Olympic Games and beyond,” ISA President Fernando Aguerre said. “That organization is USA Surfing.”

USA Surfing, in a public statement about the recertification process, pointed to its ISA affiliation as well as endorsements from multiple surfers and the World Surf League, including a statement from WSL Chief Executive Officer Ryan Crosby saying “we believe their continued leadership is essential in shaping the sport’s future and the next generation of Team USA athletes.”

The World Surf League’s chief executive officer from 2017 through 2020 was Sophie Goldschmidt, the current chief executive officer at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which has 10 winter sports under its umbrella.

“We have to admit — we’re a little flattered,” said USA Surfing Chief Executive Officer Becky Fleischauer Jewell. “U.S. Ski wants our Olympic surfers? We get it. Our surfers and sport are incredible. … It’s no surprise they’d want a piece of it.”

Fleischauer Jewell’s statement added USA Surfing has developed world champions and Olympic medalists and also supports ISA disciplines including para surfing, longboard, Masters and junior categories.

“Their interest begins and ends with four Olympic surfers and the commercial rights attached to them,” Fleischauer Jewell said of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “That is not governance — it’s a licensing deal.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s application says in part “with the growth and popularity of surfing, it’s critical that a well-managed organization take responsibility to help the sport, and these athletes reach their full potential at the Games, and we are best positioned to do so.” It also says that it has discussed with WSL athletes and 2024 U.S. Olympic surfers a “strong desire to be a more integral part of Team USA.”

“Team USA will win more medals with surfing under USSS than it will under any other organization,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which said it would hire a Sport Leader to focus on surfing; the application notes the sport leader would also work on potentially skateboarding.

“In addition, from a commercial perspective adding a summer sport to our 10 winter sport portfolio gives us year-round assets and programming to sell,” the application also says. “In recent years, our commercial engine has demonstrated its ability to drive significant revenue and by including surfing in our portfolio we’re best set up to drive upside in the commercial business for surfing.”