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U.S. Ski & Snowboard wants to rule Olympic surfing

USA Surfing: ready to defend from a hostile takeover by Sophie Goldschmidt's U.S. Ski and Snowboard | Photo: USA Surfing

In a dramatic twist in the Olympic surfing stage, USA Surfing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard have found themselves at odds over who should govern the sport in the United States.

USA Surfing, the longtime face of U.S. surfing, is pushing to regain its status as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Olympic surfing under the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The bid comes on the heels of a turbulent past.

USA Surfing lost its NGB certification in 2021 following audits that uncovered serious financial and governance issues.

The organization's board chose to step away from its role to avoid lengthy legal conflicts as the 2024 Paris Olympics at Teahupoo loomed.

Now, USA Surfing claims it has addressed those issues and is ready to lead U.S. Olympic surfing once again.

However, in a surprising move, U.S. Ski & Snowboard - an organization with a strong winter sports pedigree but no history in managing surfing - has also thrown its hat in the ring.

Their application immediately raised eyebrows in the surf community, especially after all the praise the winter sports entity had shown on social media toward USA Surfing.

As Olympic gold medalists Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore stated in a joint letter, "It is of utmost importance for surfers to be represented by an organization that knows us and our sport and is exclusively dedicated to what we need to be successful."

Critics say that U.S. Ski lacks the necessary infrastructure.

The organization manages 10 winter sports but does not have any dedicated surf coaches, competition frameworks, or ties to the athlete development pipeline that surfing demands.

And that could make all the difference.

U.S. Ski and Snowboard (July 2024): praising USA Surfing before the stabbing

An Unusual Move

The application from U.S. Ski, coupled with USOPC's unusual handling of the process, has deepened concerns.

The USOPC is accused of not sharing both applications publicly, posing different questions for each, and offering preferential treatment to U.S. Ski.

The pressure mounts as the surfing community rallies behind USA Surfing. Supporters stress the importance of a governing body that truly understands the sport.

"USA Surfing is the obvious choice for surfing's NGB," said Candice Appleby, a USOPC Team USA athlete and celebrated champion.

Leaders like Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association (ISA), and industry figures such as Vipe Desai of the Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA) have voiced strong support for USA Surfing.

They argue that a body with a proven track record in nurturing talent and upholding surfing's unique culture should be at the helm.

In a pointed remark about U.S. Ski's ambitions, USA Surfing CEO Becky Fleischauer Jewell commented, "We have to admit - we're a little flattered. U.S. Ski wants our Olympic surfers? We get it. Our surfers and sport are incredible."

She added, "But governing a sport like ours is about more than just wanting to be associated with it and commercialize it. It takes expertise, experience, and deep relationships with athletes at every level."

The stakes are high.

USA Surfing boasts decades of experience, with a legacy that includes back-to-back Olympic medals and multiple world titles.

The organization is backed by the ISA, top professional athletes, the World Surf League (WSL), and numerous surf clubs and industry groups.

Its commitment to every facet of surfing - from shortboard to para surfing - stands in stark contrast to U.S. Ski's narrow, commercially driven approach.

U.S. Ski and Snowboard (June 2024): 'you're great, USA Surfing, but we can be better'

A Stab in the Back

Questions continue to swirl.

Why is an organization with no experience in surfing being considered for a role that demands decades of history and deep community roots?

And why does the process seem to favor U.S. Ski despite its lack of credentials in the sport?

Surfers are now urged to voice their concerns and ask for transparency from the USOPC.

The unfolding dispute is a bureaucratic battle and a fight for the soul of competitive American surfing.

With strong voices from the surf community calling for a leader who truly understands the sport's essence, the drama continues to build as the USOPC weighs its options.

Revengeful coincidence, or maybe not: Sophie Goldschmidt, former CEO of the WSL, is now the president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

And if you thought winter sports' umbrella expansion ambition would stop right there, here's another surprising claim attempt: U.S. Ski & Snowboard also wants to take over skateboarding by dethroning World Skate.

Will Goldschmidt annex the older brothers? Could the bold move eventually slingshot? Stay tuned for the upcoming episodes of an unnecessary soap opera.


Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com



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