The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee certifies USA Surfing as the National Governing Body for surfing in the United States. USA Surfing’s bylaws guarantee athlete representation throughout the organization.
Board of Directors. Athletes hold at least four of the Board’s 12 seats.
Athletes’ Advisory Council. Elected by their peers, Council members advise the Board and staff on issues affecting surfers and oversee Athlete Director elections.
USA Surfing committees. Athletes hold at least one-third of the seats on every committee, including those responsible for nominations and governance, ethics, and audit and finance.
Team USA Athletes’ Commission. Athletes elect a Representative and an Alternate to bring surfers’ perspectives to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement. The Representative also serves as an Athlete Director on USA Surfing’s Board.
The Athlete Director seat currently held by Brett Simpson is up for election this November. Simpson is seeking reelection, and eligible athletes may nominate themselves to run for the seat. The next four-year term begins January 1, 2027.
To run, nominate yourself by 5:00 pm Pacific on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Candidates must meet the NGB 10 Year Athlete or the NGB 10 Year+ Athlete definition as of the record date, October 19, 2026 — the Athletes’ Advisory Council has opened this seat to 10 Year+ athletes, whose last qualifying competition was more than ten years ago — be U.S. citizens 18 or older, and be, or become by November 16, USA Surfing members in good standing. The election rules have the full requirements.
To vote, cast your ballot online or by phone from 9:00 am Pacific on Wednesday, November 18 to 5:00 pm Pacific on Monday, November 23, 2026. Voters must meet the NGB 10 Year Athlete definition as of October 19, 2026, be U.S. citizens and be 18 or older. USA Surfing membership is not required to vote. The election rules list the qualifying competitions and the finishes required for eligibility. Your voting credential comes via email from Votem, the independent election administrator, on November 18.
Didn’t receive the call for nominations email? If you believe you are eligible and did not get the email by November 10, or your contact details have changed, write to the election administrator at usasurfing@votem.com with your name, qualifying competition and year, date of birth and confirmation of U.S. citizenship. Additions and corrections to the voter list are accepted through November 17.
Votem, an independent election administrator, conducts the election under rules adopted by USA Surfing’s Athletes’ Advisory Council. Candidates, their statements and their answers to three questions are published here on November 17. The Council certifies the result by December 1, and the Board records it on December 15.
Votem, an independent election administrator, conducts the election under rules adopted by USA Surfing’s Athletes’ Advisory Council. Candidates, their statements and their answers to three questions are published here on November 17. The Council certifies the result by December 1, and the Board records it on December 15.
Mia Gilkerson
Secretary, USA Surfing
mia@usasurfing.org
Questions about eligibility, nominations or voting:
usasurfing@votem.com (election administrator)
