Surf Heavyweights Are Rallying Against Ski Federation Bid for Olympic Surfing Control

Evan Quarnstrom in The Inertia

Leaders in the surf industry are rallying to keep USA Surfing in control of the Olympic side of the sport. Photo: USA Surfing

Key figures in the surf industry have launched a coalition to oppose U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s attempt to take control of the U.S. Olympic surf team. Surf legends Ian Cairns, Shaun Tomson, and Peter Townend are among those leading the group, Stop the Skijack, which is urging supporters to sign a petition aimed at keeping Olympic surfing under the control of the surf community.

The effort highlights support from ISA President Fernando Aguerre, Surf Industry Members Association Executive Director Vipe Desai, WSL CEO Ryan Crosby, and members of the U.S. Olympic surf team, among others.

Cairns, a former top Australian pro and founder of the ASP World Tour, has lived in California since the ‘70s. He spearheaded the movement after learning of the power struggle. “I’m the guy charged with the responsibility of going out there and saying the unsayable, opening up the can of worms and getting the conversation going,” he told The Inertia on Wednesday.

The conflict started in 2021 when USA Surfing lost its Olympic certification with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) following audits that flagged governance and financial issues. USA Surfing’s board voluntarily relinquished certification to avoid drawn-out legal battles ahead of surfing’s second Olympic appearance in 2024. The USOPC managed the Olympic surf team in the interim, with the understanding that USA Surfing could be reconsidered after addressing its audit findings.

Now, as USOPC reopens the certification process, the ski federation has entered the race for control. Surfers accuse the skiers – led by former WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt – of cutting backroom funding deals with USOPC and violating the Ted Stevens Act, which bars a national governing body from representing more than one international federation.

“We need to help pull the curtain aside and expose that USOPC is incorrectly negotiating with U.S. Ski and Snowboard to take away the rights of surfing,” Cairns said. “We’re trying to be as noisy as possible and activate as many people as possible.”

U.S. Ski and Snowboard argues it can elevate surfing with its resources and high-performance expertise. Over the past four years, USA Surfing has operated on an average annual budget of $870,000. In contrast, the ski federation reported $61.7 million in revenue in its fiscal year ending April 2025, with 172 full-time staff and 75 contracted athletic trainers. According to Cairns, Stop the Skijack runs with no funding at all; the website and lobbying has been done pro bono by volunteers.

Despite the imbalance, Cairns feels the momentum is turning. While he once thought surfing had no chance against the ski federation’s budget, he’s recently grown more optimistic. He says USOPC’s shift toward keeping governing status in-house and outsourcing Olympic team management could be a sign that their campaign is making an impact.

The Stop the Skijack petition has also gained political traction. Cairns says that San Clemente, Oceanside, and Huntington Beach city leaders have backed the cause, and he’s been in talks with California politicians Ted Lieu and Darrell Issa to help apply pressure. On October 1, Assemblymember Laurie Davies rallied more than 20 colleagues to co-sign a letter to USOPC objecting to the ski federation takeover.

From Cairns’ perspective, Goldschmidt has already had her moment in surfing and should move on. “We wish (Goldschmidt) all the best and all the success,” he said. “Focus on doing the best you can with skiing and snowboarding and leave us alone.”

Cairns insists USA Surfing has everything it needs to succeed. “We already have extraordinary surfers, men and women number two in the world this year,” he said. “There is no value that (U.S. Ski and Snowboard) brings to us. We’re simply saying, ‘Back off, do the right thing, re-certify USA Surfing, and let’s put our energy and focus on winning gold medals for USA.’”