Photo: USA Surfing
The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSS) is withdrawing its bid to become the governing body for U.S. Surfing at the Olympic Games. This ends a year-long power struggle between the USSS and the previous U.S. olympic surfing governing body, USA Surfing.
Though the USSS bid for the U.S. surfing team has been going on for the past year, struggles over governance of the surf team began in 2021 when San Clemente-based USA Surfing lost its status as the national governing body. Audits uncovered governance and financial issues. As a result, USA Surfing voluntarily decertified, with the understanding it would be reconsidered after fixing the issues identified in the audit. In the interim, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) managed the team.
In February of this year, USSS threw its hat in the ring. The organization cited among its credentials the fact that it not only already governed 10 winter sports, but that it already had a connection to surfing through its CEO Sophie Goldschmidt, who helmed the WSL from 2017 to 2020.
“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 stated. “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.”
However, an announcement released Friday officially ended that process. “After thoughtful consideration, and despite the USOPC’s invitation to participate in its open process, meaningful interest from athletes and commercial partners, and considerable time and effort on behalf of our organization, we have decided not to move forward with the USOPC’s process at this time,” wrote U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
As to why they had the change of heart, U.S. Ski & Snowboard placed the blame squarely on USA Surfing. “Despite U.S. Ski & Snowboard reaching out multiple times over the past 18 months, USA Surfing—the National Governing Body that relinquished its certification in 2021 for failure to meet USOPC compliance standards—chose public attacks and uninformed legal threats instead of constructive dialogue and engagement,” continued the statement. “Considering those factors, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has concluded that our energy and expertise are best used in service to our athletes as they prepare for the upcoming Winter Games.”
Despite all that, they still left the door slightly ajar to re-entering the world of Olympic Surfing in the future, concluding the statement with, “We feel progress in sport requires partnership and trust. We remain open to opportunities in the future should the environment become more collaborative.”
