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≡ SURFING NGB SELECTION ≡
On Friday, U.S. Ski & Snowboard posted a notice announcing its withdrawal from an effort to become the U.S. National Governing Body for surfing. The statement included:
“[A]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.
“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. 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.
“We feel progress in sport requires partnership and trust. We remain open to opportunities in the future should the environment become more collaborative.”
That leaves USA Surfing as the lone contender to become – again – the National Governing Body for surfing, as recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. However, it will have to satisfy the USOPC’s concerns over funding and governance, two of the issues which led USA Surfing to agree to relinquish its status as the American NGB for the sport in 2021.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard, whose chief executive, Sophie Goldschmidt, formerly led the World Surf League, brought considerable financial and promotional expertise to the table. However, its bid was always going to be hamstrung by the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act (36 U.S.C. §2205 et seq.), which requires in 36 U.S.C. §220522 (6) that it:
“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.”
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is already a member of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), which should prevent it from being a National Governing Body for any other sport. But that did not stop it from applying, and it has apparently also applied to be the NGB for skateboarding, which is also on the Olympic program now.
The USOPC told U.S. Ski & Snowboard and USA Surfing, as the only two groups that expressed any interest, that they could apply once the NGB recognition process opened.
USA Surfing, after de-certifying in 2021, has reformed its structure and announced in June a “multi-million-dollar investment from Kamaka Responsible Development and Resin Services” to help support its finances. USA Surfing, which has continued to act as the governing body of the sport in the U.S., has key public support from the International Surfing Association – the recognized International Federation for surfing – as well as the World Surf League, U.S. Board Riders Clubs and Surf Industry Members Association.
USA Surfing also holds tournaments and championships at the Lower Trestles beach near San Clemente, California where the 2028 Olympic surfing tournaments will take place.
Now, USA Surfing will have to demonstrate to the USOPC’s satisfaction that it is now equipped to serve as the U.S. NGB for the sport; its second hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, 18 November.
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