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LA28 Olympic Surfing Location Down To Either Trestles or Huntington Beach

Originally posted on SURFER | By Ashtyn Douglas-Rosa | Last updated Feb 3, 2025 1:08 PM ET

With surfing’s success in the 2024 Paris Olympics now well in the rearview mirror, event organizers are now focused on planning for the LA 2028 Games.

Rumors have circulated over the past couple years as to where surfing’s third Olympic appearance will be held, given Southern California’s 400-plus-mile-long coastline. Will it be held at a point? A beachie? In LA? A wave pool?

But as of last month, it seems that SoCal’s hundreds of available options have been whittled down to two potential host venues: Lower Trestles and the Huntington Beach Pier.

"Lower Trestles and Huntington Beach are the leading candidates to host the surfing competition at the LA28 Olympic Games," ISA President Fernando Aguerre told SURFER.

"Both venues have demonstrated a clear track record of hosting world-class surf events, and they are widely regarded as two of the top surfing destinations in Southern California," Aguerre continued."The final decision on the Olympic surfing venue will be made in close collaboration with the LA2028 Organizing Committee, taking into account the unique strengths and characteristics of each location."

How well surfing is received among the surfy and non-surfy masses alike – as an Olympic event, that is – partially depends on the quality of the wave venue. Thanks to Teahupo’o flexing its power during a few rounds of the 2024 Games (and one viral Gabe Medina photo), surfing got the attention it deserved. Will Lowers or Huntington deliver the same drama?

Back in August, we asked a few pro surfers, coaches, and surf legends, where they’d prefer LA28 be held. Aside from Kelly Slater arguing the Games should be held in a wave pool (because of course he did), here were a few responses:

“I think it should be held at Huntington! You get that stadium feel and it’s Surf City! – Kanoa Igarashi

“Definitely Lowers for me. It’s an A+ World Tour wave that offers an incredible canvas to showcase how good surfing is plus it’s an even playing field compared to HB.” – Bede Durbidge

“Being on the second half of July I definitely think the 2028 Olympics for surfing in LA should be held at Lower Trestles. Consistency of wave quality will be essential to keep performances anywhere near what we just saw at Teahupo’o.” – Luke Egan

According to the ISA, the final decision will be "made in close collaboration with the LA2028 Organizing Committee, taking into account the unique strengths and characteristics of each location."

Stay tuned for the forthcoming announcement.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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