U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association drops bid to govern surfing at LA28

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association is backing off its bid to govern Team USA surfing in the LA28 Olympics, saying it will focus on its athletes and upcoming winter Olympic Games.

USA Surfing, the San Clemente-based group that has long been the pipeline for amateur surfing athletes, and the Park City winter sports group have been lobbying the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for the past year over who should govern the competitive athletes who will represent the United States in the waves. The group that governs the national team is poised to gain millions of dollars in funding for training, development and promotional efforts.

USA Surfing was the national governing body when the sport debuted in the Olympics for the 2020 Tokyo Games. But in 2021, it voluntarily decertified in order