USA Surfing has been making a comeback, of late. The most recent step in the direction of certification comes in the form of an endorsement from the city of San Clemente, California. In a formal letter to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the San Clemente City Council expressed full support for USA Surfing’s application to be re-certified as the National Governing Body for Olympic surfing.

The city council voiced its support via a letter dated August 4, signed by San Clemente Mayor Steve Knoblock, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Enmeier and councilmembers Victor Cabral, Rick Loeffler and Zhen Wu. “The City of San Clemente is not only the epicenter of surfing in the United States, but also the home of USA Surfing,” they wrote. “Having a Governing Body that recognizes and understands the importance of surfing in San Clemente — and is deeply connected with its community — is crucial. USA Surfing’s leadership, relationships, and expertise will ensure an unparalleled Olympic experience for athletes, fans, and local residents.”

The letter also added that U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s proposal to become surfing’s governing body, which we were the first to report on, “would only extract Olympic revenue and recognition from San Clemente and the broader surf ecosystem, without reinvesting in the athletes, the sport or this special place that makes U.S. Surfing so great.”

This is the latest in a series of moves by USA Surfing to shore up its bid for recertification. The organization was once the governing body for surfing in America, before audits performed by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) identified numerous financial and governance issues, leading to the organization decertifying as the sport’s national governing body in December of 2021. Since then, USOPC has managed the USA surf team.

However, during USA Surfing’s absence, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Federation, a winter sports organization run by former WSL chief executive Sophie Goldschmidt, began its own campaign to become the sport’s governing body.

In response, USA Surfing has redoubled its efforts to make a bid for recertification. “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,” USA Surfing executive director Becky Fleischauer told The Associated Press, following the announcement that the organization had secured a multi-million-dollar investment. “There’s a lot of energy. This investment is a declaration of confidence in the future of surfing from those who know it best.”