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How OC surfers won big this week in their Olympic bid
The backers of USA Surfing say they have proof that their rival US Ski & Snowboard doesn't know anything about the sport of surfing. It's an image used by the Utah-based snow group that appears to show a surfer facing backwards on a board.
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Jill Replogle
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How OC surfers won big this week in their Olympic bid
The U.S. Olympic surf team will officially be managed … by surfers … when the Olympics come to LA in 2028. That might sound obvious, but for a while there, it was in doubt. LAist's Jill Replogle explains.
The U.S. surf team will officially be managed by surfers when the Olympics come to LA in 2028. Duh? Well, for a while there, it was in doubt. Let us explain:
The backstory
US Ski and Snowboard, based in Utah, had initially been vying for control of the Olympic surf team in hopes of turning itself into an action sports juggernaut. But faced with strong opposition in the surf world, the organization dropped its bid to manage the U.S. Olympic surf team late last year.
Why it's a second chance for USA Surfing
The designation of USA Surfing as the official “National Governing Body” for Olympic surfing is a kind of second chance for the organization. Previously, it had relinquished control over the U.S. Olympic surf team following a 2019 audit that found numerous problems with its accounting and finances.
What changed?
In a news conference this week, Gene Sykes, board chair of the U.S. Olympic committee, credited USA Surfing’s “new leadership and new approach” with earning back the board’s confidence. “Surfing is a sport that has deep roots in Southern California and will no doubt be a highlight of the LA28 games,” Sykes said. “We look forward to a positive and collaborative working relationship as we deliver on the promise of LA28 and beyond.”
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Tell me about Olympic surfing
Olympic surfing at the LA28 Games will take place at Lower Trestles, a world-class surf break in San Clemente.
Go deeper on this surf v. sand fight, and the latest Olympic news
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