Making the USA Surfing Teams

​San Clemente, California (June 7, 2018) – Selection to national USA Surfing teams brings athletes into an elite program with year-round high-performance training and the potential to represent USA Surfing in annual International Olympic Committee and International Surfing Association (ISA)-sanctioned surfing events. USA Surfing’s goal is to develop Junior Champions who will go on to experience future Olympic success representing their country.
 
USA Surfing has three levels for its USA Junior Teams: developmental, junior national and world juniors training team. Each level described below creates a progressive path to perform at elite levels and potentially represent the United States at the 2020 Olympic Games and beyond (see Olympic Surfing Qualification System). The developmental and junior national teams will be presented at the conclusion of Championships on June 20.  
 
Developmental Team – This team is an entry-level group of 24 surfers. Head coach Joey Buran said he is looking for potential: “We want to make sure that we have anyone and everyone on this team for immediate coaching and developmental purposes, who could possibly make the jump to the junior team and help us contend for World Team Gold in 2019/2020 for the Under 16-year-old boys and girls divisions. Think junior varsity developing into varsity-level ability.”
 
Selection criteria include: 

• Participation, performance and results in USA Surfing affiliate organizations: National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), Western Surfing Association (WSA), Eastern Surfing Association (ESA), Hawaiian Surfing Association (HSA), and Texas Gulf Surfing Association (TGSA)
• Based on above, subsequent invitation to and evaluation in USA Surfing sanctioned scouting and training sessions held across the nation
• Performance at USA Surfing Championships (not mandatory for selection to the Developmental Surf Team)

 
Junior Team – Called up from the developmental team ranks, this team is a high-performance Junior Olympic level group of 32 surfers (8 boys and 8 girls in 4 divisions). These older athletes are pursuing their peak performances and practice and train to consistently perform with excellence. 
 
Selection criteria include: 

• Performance and participation in USA Surf Team Training and upward promotion from within the USA Developmental Surf Team
• Performance in USA Surfing "Scout Training" sessions held across the nation
• Performance in the USA Surfing Championships – results, but also demonstrated potential

 
ISA World Juniors Training Team – This team is comprised of 16 of the top performers in the Junior Team. These athletes have the experience, mastery and work ethic to compete at the most elite levels. The top 12 (determined in mid-October) will defend the team’s ISA World Junior Surfing Championship title in Huntington Beach from October 27 - November 4. The announcement of ISA world juniors training team will be made later this month. ​
 
These athletes will train and work together on a monthly basis beginning in July through mid-October. 

Those over 18 years old age out of USA Surfing’s junior programand move on to the World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS) and Championship Tour (CT). Top CT and QS surfers will be recruited to surf in the International Surfing Association World Games and Pan American Games in ratings order, CT first, then top 30 on the QS. If a team can’t be filled with CT or top 30 QS surfers, the coach will select the team from USA Junior Team alumni on the QS or top current Junior Team surfers.  
 
USA Surfing team members will have access to USA Surfing’s High Performance Committee, a group of the nation’s leading experts in athlete training and physiology who will help develop the mind, body and movement of surf athletes so they can perform better and have more fun.
 
USA Surfing head coach Joey Buran stressed that the Gold Medal in the Olympics is the highest aspiration for any sport and requires an unwavering commitment to growth – as individuals and team members. “We want every kid in this program to be blessed and benefit from the team in both experience and character. For the rest of their lives on college applications and resumes they can say ‘Member Team USA Junior Olympic Surfing Team,’ and it will convey a next-level work ethic and strength of character,” Buran said. 
 
USA Surfing CEO Greg said the youth pipeline in the United States is bursting with talent. “Surfers in the United States are getting better and better at younger and younger ages. Just look at Caroline Marks and Griffin Colapinto. Their talent and skills were honed in the USA Surfing program, and they are inspiring scores of young athletes to the world stage, which for some may include the Olympics,” Cruse said. 
 
The U.S. team won gold at the 2017 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan, where 306 surfers from a record-breaking 41 nations across the globe, competed.
 
Cruse said the win came after a long drought. “There was a 10-year period where the U.S. didn’t win. In 2003, we were 17th in the world and never won a World Junior Surfing Championship until 2015 and again in 2017. And now the United States will host the next International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship and get a chance to defend our title with a blockbuster team.” 
 
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