Don Bostick has been appointed as the new chair of USA Skateboarding following the departure of Gary Ream ©Facebook

USA Skateboarding (USAS) has confirmed the appointment of Don Bostick as its new chair following the departure of Gary Ream, revealed exclusively by insidethegames.

Ream has been forced to step down following the publication of a damning audit conducted by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The audit, completed last month, ruled that USAS was "deficient" in 28 of the 48 areas investigated.

This included 13 of the 16 sections related to governance and compliance and all seven in financial standards and reporting practices.

Bostick is an industry veteran who, unlike Ream, who admitted he had never been on a skateboard, has a long and varied history in the sport.

The 72-year-old is a former National Skateboard Association President and was involved in the formation of World Cup Skateboarding.

An audit of USA Skateboarding by the USOPC found it was deficient in 28 of the 48 areas investigated ©USA Skateboarding
An audit of USA Skateboarding by the USOPC found it was deficient in 28 of the 48 areas investigated ©USA Skateboarding

Bostick had previously worked closely with Ream.

They were founding members of both the International Skateboard Federation (ISF) and USAS.

Bostick served as vice-president of the ISF, which merged with World Skate in time for the sport’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

Bostick is also a keen surfer, mountain biker and has played music professionally.

Following insidethegames exclusive story yesterday, USAS updated details on its website of its Board of Directors, which includes Micaela Ramirez, Bryan Ridgeway, Stephanie Murdock and Oscar Loreto, Jr.

But three positions are listed as "vacant" following the departure of a number of key personnel following revelations the audit discovered that no financial reports had been presented to the USAS Board last year, that a budget for 2021 was never completed and that "there are multiple issues related to USOPC Funding".

The audit also revealed that USAS had been paying unsubstantiated expenses, there was no documented approval for any expense, and it had been providing per diem to staff members in excess of the days they travelled.

Nicole Hause has been appointed by the USOPC to represent the interests of the athletes at USA Skateboarding ©Getty Images
Nicole Hause has been appointed by the USOPC to represent the interests of the athletes at USA Skateboarding ©Getty Images

There are also three vacant positions on the four-person USAS Athlete Directors, with the only position filled being that of 24-year-old Nicole Hause, appointed as the USOPC athlete representative.

Despite the revelations about USAS, Ream remains chair of the World Skate Skateboarding Technical Commission.

He was appointed to the role in 2017 and oversaw the sport's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

As it stands, Ream will also be in charge of sport's appearance at Paris 2024.

World Skate has failed to respond to a request for comment from insidethegames about Ream’s position.