Surfing rebuffs a bid by U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) to bring the sport under its umbrella.

In a landmark decision for the American surf community, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has formally recognized USA Surfing as the official National Governing Body (NGB) for Olympic-style surfing. The move effectively ends a high-stakes, multi-year power struggle and ensures that the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Games will be managed by a surfing-specific organization.

The certification, announced this week and set to take effect June 1, 2026, marks a triumphant comeback for the San Clemente-based organization. It also formally rebuffs a bid by U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) to bring the sport under its umbrella.

The path to this week's announcement was anything but smooth. Following the Tokyo 2020 Games, USA Surfing faced significant internal turmoil, leading to its voluntary decertification in late 2021 amid financial and governance concerns. During the interim, the USOPC stepped in to manage the U.S. Olympic surf team directly.

Recognizing a leadership vacuum, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, led by former World Surf League (WSL) CEO Sophie Goldschmidt, launched a bid to take over the sport. Goldschmidt argued that the winter sports federation possessed the "world-class leadership and relationships" necessary to professionalize the Olympic program.

However, the proposal sparked immediate and fierce pushback from the global surf industry and top-tier athletes. High-profile Olympians—including gold medalist Caroline Marks, Carissa Moore, and Griffin Colapinto—were vocal in their insistence that surfing required a "surfer-led" pathway. The community’s core argument remained simple: skiing and snowboarding are fundamentally distinct from the culture and technical needs of surfing.

The USOPC’s endorsement follows a rigorous restructuring within USA Surfing. Under new leadership, the organization secured a multimillion-dollar endowment and doubled its revenue through a strategic investor alliance involving Kip Sheppard, Kamaka Responsible Development, and Resin Services.

"USA Surfing’s new leadership and new approach has made this moment possible," said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. "The obligation of an NGB is significant, and we look forward to a collaborative partnership to deliver on the promise of this great sport."

Rob Pendergist, Board Chair of USA Surfing, called the milestone a "testament to the hard work of our athletes and the entire surf community." The organization has already committed to a massive high-performance investment through 2028, covering 64 athletes across all International Surfing Association (ISA) disciplines.

The stakes for the NGB designation were particularly high given the location of the next Summer Games. The 2028 Olympic surfing competition will be held at Lower Trestles in San Clemente—the "home break" and headquarters for USA Surfing.

By reclaiming its status, USA Surfing ensures that the "local" legacy of the Games—from youth coaching programs to coastal environmental stewardship—will be managed by those most deeply embedded in the California surf scene.

"Now we’re coming full circle," said a spokesperson for the organization. "Representing our country at Lowers, backed by the organization that invested in us from the beginning—that’s exactly where we need to be."