Sophie Goldschmidt at the Freestyle World Cup moguls event at Deer Valley Resort, Utah. Photo: @dustinsatloff//US Ski Team
As aspiring U.S. Olympic surfers prepare to ride the waves of Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California in July 2028, their journeys could be shaped by a sports federation that only has experience dealing with skiers and snowboarders.
Seem outlandish? Certainly. However, it has become a realistic possibility with the LA28 Olympics approaching in just over three years.
The U.S. Ski & Snowboard federation (USSS) – led by former World Surf League CEO Sophie Goldschmidt – presented its case for certification as the National Governing Body for surfing during a presentation to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on April 15.
Goldschmidt continues to emphasize USSS’s merits and potential benefits for athletes.
“At first glance, it might seem unexpected, but when you look at the heart of what U.S. Ski & Snowboard does — supporting elite athletes and growing our sports — it makes complete sense,” Goldschmidt told The Inertia. “Surfing is a natural extension of our mission. We have a proven track record of developing action sports champions and we believe that with our expertise, structure and resources, we can bring real value to these athletes, particularly at the elite level.
“In addition, the fact that surfers sit in the ‘action sports’ space means there are many synergies we can optimize to help them grow,” she said.
The USSS pitch followed embattled USA Surfing – which voluntarily agreed to decertify its status with the USOPC in December 2021, due to financial issues, amid other management concerns – also presenting its case, five days prior, seeking a return to governance of the sport. The USOPC stepped in to manage surfing at the Paris 2024 Games.
USOPC CEO Sarah Hirschland acknowledged the ongoing multi-step process and specifically addressed the USSS bid to take control of U.S. Olympic surfing.
“It is not necessarily the norm, but it is not unprecedented for organizations to manage multiple sports,” Hirschland said, responding to a question I posed during a USOPC virtual news conference on April 17. “It would be new and unique in the United States – it has happened and does happen in a number of cases around the world.
“There are some legal provisions that would need to be worked through to ensure that it is done in a way that everyone can have confidence in the integrity of the process and the system, and the way it is operated,” she added.
USSS is the largest, and among the most profitable, American NGBs in Winter Olympic sports, representing 240 athletes across 10 sporting disciplines. The financial disparity between USSS and USA Surfing is night and day. In its application, USSS stated that it expected revenues of $61.7 million for its 2024-2025 fiscal year, including $17.5 million from commercial partnerships. Furthermore, it noted that revenue has grown 66 percent over the past four years, with commercial revenue alone doubling.
The USA Surfing Federal Tax Return for the calendar year 2023 showed income of $619,304, following $1.14 million in 2022.
“The amount of money being invested in supporting elite surfers in the U.S. has been flat for too long, and we think we can change that,” Goldschmidt said.
Mikaela Shiffrin (left) and Chloe Kim have certainly found success under U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s leadership. Photo: Brian Pinelli
Goldschmidt asserts USSS readiness to hop onboard, while also admitting there will be some learning curve.
“We have the systems in place — high performance, year-round support, sports medicine, marketing, athlete services and more— and surfers would immediately be able to take advantage of these existing resources,” said the highly experienced British sports executive.
“Surfing would be integrated in a way that leverages those, while also bringing on sport-specific experts where needed. We’ve also been successful at integrating new sports in the past, including Para snowboard and Para alpine two years ago.”
The 2024-25 winter season was a major success for USSS, as Team USA snow sports athletes won 12 FIS Crystal Globes, 23 World Championship medals and 34 World Cup events across the organization’s 10 sports. Olympic champions and internationally recognized stars like Mikaela Shiffrin, Chloe Kim, Jessie Diggins and Lindsey Vonn have continued to increase visibility, helping the organization prosper globally.
In its application to the USOPC, USSS boldly states:“Team USA will win more medals with surfing under USSS than it will under any other organization.”
Despite the shortcomings of USA Surfing, including leadership voids and 15 “high risk” issues as determined by a December 2019 audit, and mid 2020 follow-up, U.S. surfers have thrived at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Carissa Moore brought home gold from Japan, while Caroline Marks became an Olympic champion last summer in Tahiti.
Additionally, USA Surfing has been recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) since 1989, long before the sport’s Olympic inclusion. ISA President Fernando Aguerre has expressed his staunch support for USA Surfing and its renewed affiliation with the USOPC.
“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. That organization is USA Surfing,” Aguerre said, in a statement.
Goldschmidt, ideally, envisions some form of partnership with USA Surfing, with each organization responsible for its core strengths. She notes that USSS’s ideas and vision have been shared with active surfers.
“We’ve spoken with a number of top surfers, agents and relevant organizations, including the WSL and Surfing Australia, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – they’re not asking for a rebuild — they want that extra layer of support, structure, and leadership.,” said Goldschmidt, CEO of the WSL from 2017-2020. “That’s what we’re offering, and we’re confident it can take them to the next level.”
Goldschmidt believes that conflicts can be avoided, with the surfers remaining top priority.
“We fully respect the ISA’s role as the international federation and their relationship with USA Surfing,” she said. “Our intention isn’t to disrupt that — it is to support and enhance the elite athlete environment. We want to work in partnership with USA Surfing, the ISA, and others who care deeply about the sport to build a world-class program for athletes.”
Complicating matters, legalities in sports governance as specified in the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, adopted in 1978, could pose problems for USSS in its quest to lead U.S. surfing.
Caroline Marks in the Olympic final against Tatiana Weston-Webb. Would U.S. Ski and Snowboard provide better support to American athletes? Photo: Tim McKenna//ISA
As stated, at 36 U.S.C. §220522, a U.S. National Governing Body can be certified only if it, (among other things):“(6) demonstrates that it is a member of no more than one international sports federation that governs a sport included on the program of the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan-American Games, or the Parapan American Games;”
The USSS application avoids mention of the one-sport NGB clause, while the USA Surfing document notes it clearly. USSS is a member of the International Ski Federation (FIS).
As LA28 and surfing’s third trip to the Olympic Games looms, a decision from the USOPC as to whom to move forward with is expected by May 15. Even then, the loser can appeal the USOPC’s determination to arbitration.
Whether or not USSS adds a sport and new letter to become USSSS remains to be seen.
Editor’s Note: Brian Pinelli is a veteran sports correspondent who has covered 10 Olympic Games. He’s based out of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. You can also read the Surf Industry Members Association’s endorsement of USA Surfing here and further reporting from Evan Quarnstrom (who originally broke this story), here.
