USA Surfing Announces Leadership Transition as Organization Enters LA28 Build Phase

Greg Hulsizer Named Chief Executive Officer as the U.S. Prepares to Host the World at Lower Trestles

SAN CLEMENTE, CA (June 5, 2026)—On the heels of certification as the National Governing Body (NGB) for surfing, as recognized by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Surfing has tapped Greg Hulsizer as its new CEO, effective June 7. He succeeds Becky Fleischauer, who led the organization through USOPC NGB certification, positioning the organization for the LA28 Games at Lower Trestles with financial stability and strong momentum. Fleischauer is stepping back to address health priorities.

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Hulsizer takes the helm as USA Surfing heads into its biggest domestic competition stretch of the year, the USA Surfing Championships in Oceanside (June 7–12) followed by the USA Surfing Junior Championships at Lower Trestles (June 16–20) with the LA28 Olympic Games just over two years away.

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“Greg Hulsizer is the right person to lead this organization into the most consequential moment in its history. Becky leaves him an organization that has earned its place on the Olympic stage with financial stability, strong governance, and high-performance operations. She also brought a personal touch and genuine care for every surfer in the USA Surfing universe that set the tone for the entire organization,” said Rob Pendergist, Chair of the USA Surfing Board of Directors. “Now we continue to build. With LA28 on the horizon and the world coming to Lower Trestles, this is a defining moment for American surfing, and we are stoked to have Greg taking the helm.”

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Hulsizer is a proven executive with more than 40 years of experience leading and transforming organizations in the public and private sectors. He has held executive leadership positions across nine organizations, including four CEO roles, spanning start-ups, complex stakeholder-driven enterprises, major capital programs, and strategic growth initiatives. A 25-year member of Vistage International, he also serves as President of the San Clemente Lifeguard & Junior Guard Foundation.

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A lifelong surfer and former ocean lifeguard, Hulsizer surfs Lowers regularly and has a deep personal connection to both the wave and the community surrounding it.

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“I’ve spent more than 50 years surfing Lower Trestles. Those waves helped shape who I am. To now lead USA Surfing into a home Olympics at a place that has meant so much to me personally is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” said Hulsizer. “We’re entering this next chapter from a position of strength. LA28 gives us a unique opportunity to support our athletes as they pursue Olympic success, grow the sport, inspire the next generation, and help ensure American surfing thrives for generations to come. That’s the legacy we’re committed to building.”

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Hulsizer’s background managing complex institutions and building accountable, mission-driven teams positions him well to lead USA Surfing through both the obligations and the opportunities that come with NGB standing. The USOPC’s standards for governance, compliance, and financial stewardship are demanding, and meeting them consistently requires disciplined organizational leadership.

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Fleischauer’s tenure reshaped the organization. She led USA Surfing through sustained work to achieve NGB certification, building widespread stakeholder trust along the way. In two and a half years, the organization doubled its revenue and staffing, launched a Power Your Performance workshop series, strengthened its high-performance program, and expanded national event visibility through live broadcasts. Fleischauer also worked to forge a multiyear endowment from Kamaka Responsible Development, led by Kip Sheppard, and Orange County-based surf company Resin Services.

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“USA Surfing is strong, focused, and ready for what’s ahead. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together, and excited about what Greg, Team USA surfers, and USA Surfing's team of dedicated, savvy staff and many more will accomplish heading into LA28 and beyond,” said Fleischauer.

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This weekend’s competition kicks off with the USA Surfing Championships in Oceanside, CA (June 7–12), featuring Para Surf, Longboard, Adult Shortboard, SUP Surf, and SUP and Prone race disciplines. Every surfer in the field is chasing a spot on national teams and, for many, a qualifying pathway to the Pan American Games.

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Next up is the USA Surfing Junior Championships (June 16–20) at Lower Trestles, the same wave where the world will watch Olympic surfing two summers from now. This is where Olympic careers begin: every Team USA Olympic surfer has come through this event. The country's best under-18 surfers, from Hawaii to Florida, will converge on Lowers to compete for national titles and get their first taste of what an Olympic stage feels like, on the very same wave where medals will be decided in 2028.

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As the organization looks toward LA28, USA Surfing continues to invest in staffing across commercial development, athlete storytelling, and medal-contention programming — a long-term growth strategy calibrated to the demands of a home Games. USA Surfing is stoked to welcome the world to Lower Trestles, and to make sure every American surfer arrives ready to compete for a medal and own the moment.

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About USA Surfing

USA Surfing is the International Surfing Association (ISA)-recognized national federation for the sport of surfing in the United States and the USOPC-certified National Governing Body for Olympic and Paralympic surfing. Based in San Clemente, California — home of the LA28 Olympic surfing venue at Lower Trestles — USA Surfing develops and supports American surfers across all competitive disciplines, including Olympic shortboard, para surfing, longboard, SUP surf, stand-up paddling, prone paddling, and bodyboarding. USA Surfing’s alumni include back-to-back Olympic gold medalists, ISA World Champions, and a deep roster of Americans currently competing on the 2026 WSL Championship Tour. For more information, visit usasurfing.org.