America’s surf talent must receive world-class backing to sustain and build upon back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals. That was the message from USA Surfing’s High-Performance Committee report—a blueprint designed to elevate American surfing talent and deliver podium success at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and beyond.
The report provides an assessment of where American surfing stands, where the gaps are, and how to ensure sustained excellence on the world stage. While the U.S. has been a dominant force in surfing, the global landscape is rapidly evolving.
The High-Performance Committee (see list below) is composed of the top practitioners in surf coaching, sports science, and performance optimization. Leading this effort is High-Performance Committee Chair Samantha Campbell, renowned for her work in surf-specific training and injury prevention.
"To maintain our position as a global surf powerhouse, we need to be strategic, data-driven, and athlete-centered in our approach," said Samantha Campbell, Chair of USA Surfing’s High-Performance Committee. "This plan is a crucial step in ensuring American surfers have the resources, training, and competitive strategies to win on the world’s biggest stage."
The High-Performance Plan lays out key objectives, including:
✅ Raising Awareness of the current state of American surfing, and surfing’s expected expansion in the Olympic and Paralympic program with 2032 Para Surf, longboard and SUP & Paddleboard race.
✅ Showcasing Support in Action – detailing what’s working in training, coaching, and sports science programs underway, including USA Surfing’s Power Your Performance workshops, and aerial and wave pool training camps.
✅ Delivering a Competitive Needs Analysis – evaluating how the U.S. stacks up against the highly funded programs in Brazil, Australia, China, and beyond.
✅ Supporting the 2028 Olympic Hopefuls – establishing a competitive advantage with a high-impact “team behind the team,” training and development pathways for America’s top surfers.
✅ Securing USOPC and Sponsor Investment – ensuring increased funding and resources to provide American athletes with the best-in-class support they need to win.
With other nations investing millions in surf development, USA Surfing issued a call to action to close funding gaps and ensure that American surfers have access to world-class coaching, training, and support services.
"The level of talent coming through the USA Surfing pipeline right now is incredible," said USA Surfing Head Coach Ryan Simmons. "We have some of the most exciting young surfers in the world, and their potential is limitless. But to reach the highest level and consistently perform at their peak, they need the right support, training, and resources. This plan is about ensuring that every surfer who has the talent to win on the world stage has the support to make it happen."
"As a lifelong surfer and family physician practicing in a surfing-rich community for the past 18 years, I have never encountered a more dedicated program aimed at helping our young athletes excel,” said Hoag Health physician Dr. Kurt “William” Armstrong. “USA Surfing's High Performance Strategic Plan, developed with input from top surf coaches, healthcare providers, and high-performance professionals, offers a comprehensive roadmap to develop well-rounded, highly trained surfers prepared to compete in the Olympics in 2028 and beyond."
The High-Performance Plan will be presented to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), key sponsors, and industry partners as USA Surfing seeks greater financial investment and strategic support to fuel success in LA28 and beyond.
"This is a pivotal moment for American surfing," said USA Surfing CEO Becky Fleischauer. "Our athletes have proven they have what it takes to dominate on the world stage. Now, it’s our job to ensure they have the support, funding, and resources to stay on top. The High-Performance Plan is our commitment to raising the bar for USA Surfing and ensuring our athletes are primed for success at the Olympics and beyond."
Members of the high-performance committee have been supporting USA Surfing athletes with key facets of their surfing from mental performance, nutrition, body air awareness, injury prevention, and more.
“What I love about this committee and plan is how it is designed to encompass all facets of a surfer’s training at an elite level,” said Dr. Casey Johnston who hosted a USA Surfing Power Your Performance workshop on injury prevention and management. “We aim to empower these athletes through cutting edge training and injury prevention/management protocols while maintaining true to the innate creativity of a sport and lifestyle. I am honored and have been invigorated by the opportunity to teach and learn from USA Surfing’s exceptional surf talents. The impact that education, communication and in-person connection can have on these developing athletes is tremendous! The potential is LIMITLESS!”
The challenges and opportunities facing American surf athletes are not well understood, and past success should not be taken for granted. USA Surfing invites the entire surf community—athletes, sponsors, and fans—to learn more about support for America’s surf talent and its impact.
To learn more about the High-Performance Report & Plan, visit the USA Surfing website.
To learn more about USA Surfing’s strategic plan visit the USA Surfing website.
As the ISA-recognized national federation for the sport of surfing in the US, USA Surfing is dedicated to fueling the stoke of surfing by stewarding its growth, empowering future generations of champions, and showcasing the transformative power of surfing on the Olympic stage.
For media inquiries, please contact:
becky (at) usasurfing (dot) org
Deep2Peak Founder Samantha Campbell, USA Surfing High-Performance Committee Chair and Coordinator
Sam is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Licensed Massage Therapist who has worked with elite athletes for over 20 years. Sam works with clients to enjoy pain-free activity, increased strength and flexibility, and injury resolution. She has traveled the world working with elite athletes from the US Ski Team, Triathlon Canada, Red Bull, and other high-performance programs.
Brett Simpson, 2021 Team USA Olympic surf coach
Simpson is a back-to-back U.S. Open of Surfing champion and inaugural head coach of the United States Olympic surfing team. 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore called Brett’s read of tricky wave conditions a key competitive advantage in helping her reach the top of the podium.
Shane Dorian, 2024 Team USA Olympic surf coach
As a pioneer in big wave surfing and celebrated Hawaiian coach, Shane Dorian was a prime match for 2024’s Olympic competition at Teahupo’o where Caroline Marks won a Gold Medal for her country. Dorian is the inventor of the inflatable vest that protects surfers from violent hold downs in big-wave conditions.
Dr. Kerisimasi Reynolds orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician. He is the co-founder of Silicon Valley Orthopedics in Fremont, California. Dr. Reynolds is fellowship-trained in sports medicine and advanced arthroscopy, having a special interest in treating the active population, including athletes at all levels, and volunteer orthopedic surgery mission work in underserved countries.
Dr. Lenny Wiersma is the Senior Mental Performance Consultant in the Department of Athletics at UC Berkeley and Professor Emeritus of Sport and Performance Psychology in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton. He has conducted research and/or worked with a variety of extreme sport athletes including big-wave surfers, extreme backcountry skiers and snowboarders, ultramarathon runners and cyclists, Crossfit Games athletes, UFC fighters, and professional Esport athletes. He has worked with Olympic athletes from a variety of sports, including USA Swimming, and has served on the Advisory Board of the Nike Sport Research Lab.
William “Kurt” Armstrong, board certified family medicine physician, and in-coming board member for the Hoag Health System. Dr. Armstrong is a lifelong surfer, active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Chair of the Department of Community Medicine for Hoag Hospital. Hoag is a sponsor of the WSL and USA Surfing.
Jessica Isaacs, Registered Dietitian, CSSD, is a nationally recognized Sports Dietitian with extensive experience supporting elite athletes and teams. Currently the Sports Dietitian Manager at USC, Jessica has worked with premier organizations such as Kobe Bryant's MAMBA Sports Academy, UCLA Basketball during their 2020-2021 Final Four season, and the LA Clippers, where she served as Lead Sports Dietitian. Her expertise in sports nutrition, hydration strategies, and recovery protocols has helped athletes enhance performance, prevent injury, and accelerate recovery, making her a trusted voice in high-performance sports nutrition. CSSD = Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
Kyla Coates, MSc, CEP, is a Certified Clinical and Performance Exercise Physiologist. Kyla’s background is in high performance sport, competing as an elite triathlete on the World Cup and World Championship stage. Since retiring from triathlon, Kyla has shifted her focus towards identifying and improving limitations of performance across the spectrum of disease to high performance sport. As a physiologist, Kyla has worked with professional water sport athletes on Maui, runners on the national athletics team and ultra endurance athletes.
Mackenzie Brown, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS is a Licensed Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Certified Specialist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with her BS in Kinesiology and Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She has specialized in outpatient sports and orthopedics since the start of her career in 2011, with sub-specialties in vestibular rehab and concussion management. She joined the Deep2Peak team in Haiku, Maui in 2017 which honed her focus to high performance athletes in the water sports world. Mackenzie enjoys working in conjunction with athletes and their team to optimize their performance and help them reach their full potential.
Dr. Casey Johnston, PT, DPT, CF-OL1 is a distinguished physical therapist, fitness expert, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in the fitness and sports performance industry. With over 13 years as a practicing physical therapist specializing in outpatient orthopedics, neurology, and sports medicine, Dr. Johnston has a proven track record of optimizing performance and preventing injuries for athletes of all levels. Her extensive expertise makes her a valuable contributor to the development of high-performance training programs, including those designed for Olympic-level surfers.
Bennett Sheppard, Resin Services, COO and wave pool investor. Resin Services has supported USA Surfing ISA World Championship junior teams and is always on the lookout for opportunities to elevate surfer’s performance with equipment and resources in and out of the water. Their goal is to help surfing grow as an industry and lifestyle.
Kayla Durden, WSL associate commissioner and Rising Tides director, responsible for organizing the WSL’s mentorship program matching CT surfers with up-and-coming young surf talents.
Courtney Conlogue, former WSL Championship tour surfer with 13 event wins and multiple ISA World Championship Gold Medals. USA Surfing is stoked to have Courtney leading USA Surfing aerial camps, elite junior and ISA World Para Surf development opportunities.
Ryan Simmons, head coach and competition director, USA Surfing, WSL QS announcer. As a multi-medal ISA World Junior Championship coach, Simmons is attuned to the performance and needs of the up-and-coming talent.
Jen Murphy, High-Performance Plan author
Jen is a freelance writer for some of the most-read media outlets in the world - New York Times, Outside Magazine, Wall Street Journal and more. She is masterful in conducting interviews with subject matter experts and curating the best research. She is also an avid surfer, athlete, and newly-minted athletic trainer.
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