Latest news with #USASurfing
San Francisco Chronicle
11 hours ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
USA Surfing gets new financial backing in a bid to be recertified for its hometown Olympics
LOS ANGELES (AP) — USA Surfing says it has secured a multimillion-dollar endowment as part of its push to be recertified as the nascent Olympic sport's national governing body after losing its status four years ago over financial issues. USA Surfing executive director Becky Fleischauer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investment is a major step toward the organization's goal to return to the Olympic movement. 'We have a new board, new leadership, and we've been delivering more value to our surfers than has ever been provided in the past,' Fleischauer said. 'There's a lot of energy. This investment is a declaration of confidence in the future of surfing from those who know it best.' USA Surfing has struck multiyear deals for financial backing from Kamaka Responsible Development, which builds housing communities, and with Orange County-based surf company Resin Services. Kamaka also plans to develop a wave pool that can be used for year-round training for USA Surfing athletes. Fleischauer spoke from the USA Surfing Championship at Lower Trestles, the iconic surf break near San Clemente, California, that will also host the Los Angeles Olympics surfing competition in 2028. USA Surfing, which is based in San Clemente, has crowned its under-18 national champions at Trestles for decades. 'Trestles is our backyard,' Fleischauer said. 'It's where our surfers train. It's where our coaches coach. It's really a global hub for surfing, and we reside right here, so that puts us in a really strong position to know our surfers, know our break, and to be able to lift up the entire community by having the Olympics here.' Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but USA Surfing had already run into trouble with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee by then over numerous concerns about the organization's financial management. USA Surfing voluntarily decertified as the sport's national governing body in December 2021, although it remained the American representative to the International Surfing Association. USA Surfing is reapplying to be the NGB again, but the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Federation has also applied to manage the Olympic surf team. The well-funded winter sports organization is run by Sophie Goldschmidt, the former chief executive of the World Surf League. One governing body managing multiple sports is an accepted practice in some countries, but hasn't been the norm in the U.S. Olympic movement since the Amateur Sports Act in 1978. The USOPC is evaluating both groups' filings and is expected to resolve the situation within the next few months. While Ski & Snowboard has ample Olympics experience, USA Surfing has the backing of the ISA and even the World Surf League itself, according to its filing with the USOPC. U.S. Olympic gold medalists Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore were among several top surfers who submitted letters of support for USA Surfing. USA Surfing has kept operating without funding from the USOPC since its decertification, still staging competitions and aiding American surfers in their preparation for international events. The body has since made large changes to its leadership, appointing Fleischauer and adding several new members to its board of directors in January 2024.
Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
USA Surfing gets new financial backing in a bid to be recertified for its hometown Olympics
LOS ANGELES (AP) — USA Surfing says it has secured a multimillion-dollar endowment as part of its push to be recertified as the nascent Olympic sport's national governing body after losing its status four years ago over financial issues. USA Surfing executive director Becky Fleischauer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investment is a major step toward the organization's goal to return to the Olympic movement. 'We have a new board, new leadership, and we've been delivering more value to our surfers than has ever been provided in the past,' Fleischauer said. 'There's a lot of energy. This investment is a declaration of confidence in the future of surfing from those who know it best.' USA Surfing has struck multiyear deals for financial backing from Kamaka Responsible Development, which builds housing communities, and with Orange County-based surf company Resin Services. Kamaka also plans to develop a wave pool that can be used for year-round training for USA Surfing athletes. Fleischauer spoke from the USA Surfing Championship at Lower Trestles, the iconic surf break near San Clemente, California, that will also host the Los Angeles Olympics surfing competition in 2028. USA Surfing, which is based in San Clemente, has crowned its under-18 national champions at Trestles for decades. 'Trestles is our backyard,' Fleischauer said. 'It's where our surfers train. It's where our coaches coach. It's really a global hub for surfing, and we reside right here, so that puts us in a really strong position to know our surfers, know our break, and to be able to lift up the entire community by having the Olympics here.' Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but USA Surfing had already run into trouble with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee by then over numerous concerns about the organization's financial management. USA Surfing voluntarily decertified as the sport's national governing body in December 2021, although it remained the American representative to the International Surfing Association. USA Surfing is reapplying to be the NGB again, but the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Federation has also applied to manage the Olympic surf team. The well-funded winter sports organization is run by Sophie Goldschmidt, the former chief executive of the World Surf League. One governing body managing multiple sports is an accepted practice in some countries, but hasn't been the norm in the U.S. Olympic movement since the Amateur Sports Act in 1978. The USOPC is evaluating both groups' filings and is expected to resolve the situation within the next few months. While Ski & Snowboard has ample Olympics experience, USA Surfing has the backing of the ISA and even the World Surf League itself, according to its filing with the USOPC. U.S. Olympic gold medalists Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore were among several top surfers who submitted letters of support for USA Surfing. USA Surfing has kept operating without funding from the USOPC since its decertification, still staging competitions and aiding American surfers in their preparation for international events. The body has since made large changes to its leadership, appointing Fleischauer and adding several new members to its board of directors in January 2024. __ AP Olympics:
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
USA Surfing gets new financial backing in a bid to be recertified for its hometown Olympics
LOS ANGELES (AP) — USA Surfing says it has secured a multimillion-dollar endowment as part of its push to be recertified as the nascent Olympic sport's national governing body after losing its status four years ago over financial issues. USA Surfing executive director Becky Fleischauer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investment is a major step toward the organization's goal to return to the Olympic movement. 'We have a new board, new leadership, and we've been delivering more value to our surfers than has ever been provided in the past,' Fleischauer said. 'There's a lot of energy. This investment is a declaration of confidence in the future of surfing from those who know it best.' USA Surfing has struck multiyear deals for financial backing from Kamaka Responsible Development, which builds housing communities, and with Orange County-based surf company Resin Services. Kamaka also plans to develop a wave pool that can be used for year-round training for USA Surfing athletes. Fleischauer spoke from the USA Surfing Championship at Lower Trestles, the iconic surf break near San Clemente, California, that will also host the Los Angeles Olympics surfing competition in 2028. USA Surfing, which is based in San Clemente, has crowned its under-18 national champions at Trestles for decades. 'Trestles is our backyard,' Fleischauer said. 'It's where our surfers train. It's where our coaches coach. It's really a global hub for surfing, and we reside right here, so that puts us in a really strong position to know our surfers, know our break, and to be able to lift up the entire community by having the Olympics here.' Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but USA Surfing had already run into trouble with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee by then over numerous concerns about the organization's financial management. USA Surfing voluntarily decertified as the sport's national governing body in December 2021, although it remained the American representative to the International Surfing Association. USA Surfing is reapplying to be the NGB again, but the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Federation has also applied to manage the Olympic surf team. The well-funded winter sports organization is run by Sophie Goldschmidt, the former chief executive of the World Surf League. One governing body managing multiple sports is an accepted practice in some countries, but hasn't been the norm in the U.S. Olympic movement since the Amateur Sports Act in 1978. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The USOPC is evaluating both groups' filings and is expected to resolve the situation within the next few months. While Ski & Snowboard has ample Olympics experience, USA Surfing has the backing of the ISA and even the World Surf League itself, according to its filing with the USOPC. U.S. Olympic gold medalists Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore were among several top surfers who submitted letters of support for USA Surfing. USA Surfing has kept operating without funding from the USOPC since its decertification, still staging competitions and aiding American surfers in their preparation for international events. The body has since made large changes to its leadership, appointing Fleischauer and adding several new members to its board of directors in January 2024. __ AP Olympics:
Fox Sports
12 hours ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
USA Surfing gets new financial backing in a bid to be recertified for its hometown Olympics
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — USA Surfing says it has secured a multimillion-dollar endowment as part of its push to be recertified as the nascent Olympic sport's national governing body after losing its status four years ago over financial issues. USA Surfing executive director Becky Fleischauer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investment is a major step toward the organization's goal to return to the Olympic movement. 'We have a new board, new leadership, and we've been delivering more value to our surfers than has ever been provided in the past,' Fleischauer said. 'There's a lot of energy. This investment is a declaration of confidence in the future of surfing from those who know it best.' USA Surfing has struck multiyear deals for financial backing from Kamaka Responsible Development, which builds housing communities, and with Orange County-based surf company Resin Services. Kamaka also plans to develop a wave pool that can be used for year-round training for USA Surfing athletes. Fleischauer spoke from the USA Surfing Championship at Lower Trestles, the iconic surf break near San Clemente, California, that will also host the Los Angeles Olympics surfing competition in 2028. USA Surfing, which is based in San Clemente, has crowned its under-18 national champions at Trestles for decades. 'Trestles is our backyard,' Fleischauer said. 'It's where our surfers train. It's where our coaches coach. It's really a global hub for surfing, and we reside right here, so that puts us in a really strong position to know our surfers, know our break, and to be able to lift up the entire community by having the Olympics here.' Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but USA Surfing had already run into trouble with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee by then over numerous concerns about the organization's financial management. USA Surfing voluntarily decertified as the sport's national governing body in December 2021, although it remained the American representative to the International Surfing Association. USA Surfing is reapplying to be the NGB again, but the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Federation has also applied to manage the Olympic surf team. The well-funded winter sports organization is run by Sophie Goldschmidt, the former chief executive of the World Surf League. One governing body managing multiple sports is an accepted practice in some countries, but hasn't been the norm in the U.S. Olympic movement since the Amateur Sports Act in 1978. The USOPC is evaluating both groups' filings and is expected to resolve the situation within the next few months. While Ski & Snowboard has ample Olympics experience, USA Surfing has the backing of the ISA and even the World Surf League itself, according to its filing with the USOPC. U.S. Olympic gold medalists Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore were among several top surfers who submitted letters of support for USA Surfing. USA Surfing has kept operating without funding from the USOPC since its decertification, still staging competitions and aiding American surfers in their preparation for international events. The body has since made large changes to its leadership, appointing Fleischauer and adding several new members to its board of directors in January 2024. __ AP Olympics:
The Star
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Alpine skiing-U.S. Ski & Snowboard secures sponsor extension, sources say deal near $100M
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard has extended its sponsorship deal with financial services firm Stifel until 2034 for what sources said was an unprecedented nearly $100 million. U.S. Ski & Snowboard officials declined to comment on the value of the deal but sources told Reuters that it was close to $100 million, making it the richest sponsorship in the organization's history. "In the past, we would have these four-year cycles where, especially off the back of an Olympic year, we would maybe drop off a little bit," U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt told Reuters. "We're not having these kinds of highs and lows. And as you look at the long-term development of athletes and how we can support them, to know now that we're going to be able to consistently build kind of year on year in how we support them is huge for us." The deal keeps the title sponsor for the U.S. Ski Team in place through a critical moment for the national governing body, as celebrities like record-breaker Mikaela Shiffrin and comeback story Lindsey Vonn spike interest. The deal offers added visibility for Stifel, a partner since 2022, with the Olympics returning to Salt Lake City in 2034. It will be the first time the United States has hosted the Winter Games in 32 years. "It just gives us the sustainability and consistent financial resources to be able to support our athletes holistically," said Goldschmidt. The deal comes as the U.S. governing body moves to expand its footprint into surfing, throwing its hat into the ring to be the de facto organizer for the U.S. surf team at the LA28 Games at an uncertain time in the sport. USA Surfing accepted decertification after the Tokyo Games that took place in 2021 amid reported concerns from the USOPC over governance and operations. "We wouldn't want to take this on if we didn't strongly believe we could put the surfers in a better place and that it would also be additive to our core sports and organization," said Goldschmidt. USA Surfing, which announced its bid for re-certification in March, has balked at the move, claiming U.S. Ski & Snowboard does not have the proper competition infrastructure in place. Goldschmidt, who said the organization was seeking to manage the elite side of the sport without becoming the national governing body outright, declined to address USA Surfing's criticisms directly: "there are plenty of examples of how different entities have managed multiple sports." "I know firsthand that there's a lot of similarities and synergies that we could optimize and take advantage of to really help surfing grow and get to a place where I think we all feel that it deserves to be," she said. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
