Kanoa Igarashi looks warily over shoulder after JD Vance slams Eileen Gu for skiing for China

"So, I'm going to root for American athletes and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans."

Olympic surfing is still two years away, the wonderful international caravan pulling into Lower Trestles as part of the magic LA ’28 Games. There will be many twists, turns, moments of triumph. Whilst we know very little, at this stage, like who will participate, if the ISA will smash the WSL and wrest control over it, etc. certain potential storylines are presenting thousands of miles away in the snowy Italian north.

Yes, the 2026 Winter Olympics are rounding the final bend, there in Milano-Corntina, and it has been a thrill. Names like Ilia Malinin, Sturla Holm Laegreid and Eileen Chu forever cemented in hearts and minds.

Chu, of course, now the most-decorated freestyle skier of all-time after taking home two silvers, is one of the faces of these Games. The 22-year-old phenom was born in San Francisco to a Chinese mother and American father. She began skiing at the age of three in Tahoe, smoked through middle and high schools and was admitted to Stanford University early. She won her first gold in Big Air at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, chasing it with a second Halfpipe and a silver in Slopestyle, then, as mentioned, adding two more silvers this past week.

Though born and raised in the U.S., she skis for the proud People’s Republic of China and here is where we lay our scene.

The United States Vice-President attended the opening ceremonies in Milan and has not been shy about opining on athlete behavior. Days ago, he advised those wearing the red, white and blue to shut the hell up, declaring, “Yes, you’re going to have some Olympic athletes who pop off about politics. I feel like that happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together, and when you’re representing the country, you’re representing Democrats and Republicans. You’re there to play a sport, and you’re there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You’re not there to pop off about politics.”

Later, when asked about Gu’s inspirational turn, he opined, “I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I’m going to root for American athletes and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”

Kanoa Igarashi looking warily over his shoulder.

But of course all surf fans know, and love, the Huntington Beach born and raised handsome boy who has spent nearly a decade on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour. Igarashi is a top-of-leaderboard mainstay and, impressively, won silver when surfing debuted as an Olympic sport six years ago in Japan.

As it happens, he surfs for The Land of the Rising Sun.

It can only be assumed that in two years, Vance will also be peeved at Igarashi for benefiting from Surf City’s educational system and the freedoms and liberties it gifted him.

An icy chill straight from the Potomac descending upon San Clemente.

Do you think Igarashi will think twice and rep Team USA or stick to his proverbial guns in the face of micro-aggression?

More as the story develops.