Carissa Moore won gold under USA Surfing’s reign. Photo: Ben Reed//ISA
USA Surfing presented its case in the final public hearing with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to regain certification ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics. The November 18 presentation came just days after U.S. Ski and Snowboard withdrew its bid to take control of the Olympic surf team, citing a lack of collaboration from USA Surfing and a desire to focus on the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The certification process has stretched through most of 2025, after the ski federation – led by former WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt – entered the running. The USOPC has not set a timeline for a final decision, a delay that concerns USA Surfing as it shortens the window to secure sponsorships for LA 2028.
USA Surfing’s investor alliance leader, Kip Sheppard, said the uncertainty “causes investors to delay decisions.” USA Surfing president Becky Fleischauer echoed that the prolonged process could hinder key sponsor partnerships.
Although USA Surfing is now the only federation left in the application process, the USOPC is not obligated to grant certification. In 2021, after USA Surfing voluntarily decertified following audits revealing governance and financial issues, the USOPC itself managed the Olympic surf team for Paris 2024. The entity could, in theory, take a similar approach for LA 2028.
Olympic coach and former WSL Championship Tour competitor Brett Simpson spoke during the final hearing, emphasizing USA Surfing’s long-standing role in athlete development.
“Every Olympic medal U.S. surfers have won so far has come through USA Surfing’s pipeline and this coaching culture,” Simpson said. “With new resources coming in, we’re not starting from scratch – we’re leveling up a system surfers already trust.”
“That kind of trust comes from years in the water and on the sand together, not just showing up every four years,” he added. “To ignore that, or hand surfing over to a group with no real connection to the sport, would break trust – and we may not get it back.”
While USA Surfing does not have the $61.7 million in annual revenue highlighted in the ski federation’s now dead proposal, the organization presented a three-fold increase in high-performance investment leading up to LA 2028. Its $4.1 million plan includes support for 64 athletes across six disciplines, a nine-event qualifying series, training camps, AI video analysis, sports science, and medal incentives at ISA events.