USA Surfing won the right to remain the official U.S. governing body for Olympic‑style surfing ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, rebuffing a bid by U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) to bring the sport under its umbrella.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) formally recognized USA Surfing as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Olympic surfing, effective June 1, 2026, after the organization completed a major restructuring and demonstrated improved financial stability. The organization had lost its standing with USOPC after the Tokyo 2020 Games due to audits that showed financial and governance issues. After voluntarily decertifying its NGB in 2021. USA Surfing underwent restructuring and a leadership change while USOPC itself managed the U.S. Olympic surf team at Paris 2024.

In March 2025, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Federation, led by former World Surf League CEO Sophie Goldschmidt, announced a bid for Olympic recognition for surfing, citing its strong leadership and relationships within the sport.

Many in the surf community pushed back at U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s potential control and supported USA Surfing, with top American surfers, including Caroline Marks, Griffin Colapinto, Caitlin Simmers, and Kolohe Andino, emphasizing the need for a governing body that understands the culture and competitive needs of surfing ahead of LA28.

Ultimately, U.S. Ski and Snowboard withdrew its application last  November, accusing USA Surfing of being uncooperative and levying “uninformed legal threats” in the process. U.S. Ski and Snowboard is still seeking control of Olympic skateboarding, which has also lacked a certified national governing body since Tokyo 2020.

The return of USA Surfing as NGD has the full support of the sport’s international federation, the International Surfing Association (ISA), the World Surf League (WSL), and a bipartisan coalition of elected leaders, according to USA Surfing.

“Being formally certified as the National Governing Body is a tremendous honor and immense responsibility,” Rob Pendergist, Board Chair, USA Surfing. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our athletes, staff, board, and the entire surf community. Our commitment to this great sport has never been stronger. In partnership with the USOPC, we look forward to delivering the Olympic legacy that surfers, the coastal communities, and everyone who stood behind this process deserve.”

Two-time USA Surfing junior champion Gabriela Bryan said in a statement, “I was twelve years old when I first competed at Lower Trestles in a USA Surfing Championship — I had no idea I was standing on what would become the Olympic stage. USA Surfing gave us the pipeline, the national championships, the pathway to the world stage. Now we’re coming full circle, representing our country right there at Lowers, backed by the organization that invested in us from the beginning. That’s incredibly exciting news.”

“Every Olympic medal U.S. surfers have won so far has come through USA Surfing’s pipeline and this coaching culture,” Brett Simpson, surfing’s first Olympic Head Coach and USA Surfing Board Member. “You’re seeing that right now with Gabriela Bryan, a USA Surfing alum, who is starting the WSL CT season ranked number one in the world. With the resources this certification unlocks, we’re leveling up system surfers already trust and delivering the world-class support these athletes have always deserved.”

USA Surfing said it has committed to a “significant high-performance investment” from 2026 through 2028, covering 64 athletes across all six ISA disciplines, qualifying competitions, domestic and international training, Olympic-specific preparation at Lower Trestles, and cutting-edge coaching and data analysis, and wave pool training sessions.

That investment builds on two years of organizational momentum that has already transformed what USA Surfing delivers to athletes:

  • Doubled revenue through an investor alliance led by Kip Sheppard, Kamaka Responsible Development, and Resin Services, creating a sustainable foundation for long-term athlete support
  • Tripled staff capacity to expand athlete services and programming
  • Launched the Power Your Performance workshop series in mental skills, nutrition, and resilience, equipping athletes for the full demands of elite competition
  • Built a live broadcast platform to grow the sport’s reach, athlete exposure, and scoring transparency
  • Forged health care partnerships to deliver Olympic-level sports medicine ahead of LA28
  • Delivered wave pool and aerial progression camps
  • Connected surfers with flexible online college education to strengthen their futures beyond competition

USA Surfing said NGB certification provides opportunities for new and bigger sponsorship, licensing, and partnership agreements. These will fund athlete development programs, elite coaching infrastructure, and community-facing initiatives designed to ensure that the economic and cultural lift of LA28 flows back into American surfing at every level.

“Today’s certification makes way for new investment and momentum to flow directly to surfers and the communities that built surfing’s talent pipeline,” said Becky Fleischauer, CEO, USA Surfing. “With Lower Trestles as the LA28 venue and the full weight of an NGB behind our surfers, we are ready to deliver the most celebrated chapter in the history of American surfing. Every surfer, from the development pipeline to the Olympic podium, will feel the lift.”

“We are pleased that the progress made under USA Surfing’s new leadership and approach has led to recertification as a National Governing Body,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “The obligation of an NGB is significant, and we thank USA Surfing’s leadership for their engagement throughout the process, and for the work still ahead. We look forward to a collaborative partnership to serve these world-class athletes and deliver on the promise of this great sport at LA28 and beyond.”

This certification will be effective starting June 1, 2026.

Image courtesy USA Surfing