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Beaches 'N' Boards returns to Cocoa Beach to showcase various sand and water sports

hillard grossman
·4 min read
Evan Geiselman competing in a heat in 2022 at the Cocoa Beach Ron Jon Surf Shop Beach 'N Boards Fest at Shepard Park.
Evan Geiselman competing in a heat in 2022 at the Cocoa Beach Ron Jon Surf Shop Beach 'N Boards Fest at Shepard Park.

It's been 10 years since Mitch Varnes created a showcase for a variety of sand and water sports on Cocoa Beach. It's only gotten bigger each year, with the exception of a missed year due to the pandemic.

Beach 'n' Boards Fest, presented by Ron Jon Surf Shop, opens Wednesday at Shepard Park on the east end of the 520 Causeway with surf competitions in four major categories: men's and women's pro, and men's and women's junior pro. Finals are Sunday.

"The event has greatly expanded," said Varnes, who uses not only the Shepard Park site but also the waters behind the Cocoa Beach Country Club for the state's largest kayak fishing tournament and, new this year, a one-mile open water swim, and SUP/paddle races.

There is also the state's largest high school beach volleyball tournament at Shepard Park, along with a foil surf event, a Roxy 5K beach run, a sold-out yoga session with 200 entries, and men's and women's skateboard competitions on a half-pipe in the parking lot area.

"I really don't think there's anything like this anywhere in the world," said Varnes, a Satellite Beach resident, who is accustomed to putting on grand shows such as the Publix Florida Marathon and Half Marathon and I Dream of Jeannie costumed running races, as well as other pro surfing events in the past.

Ron Jon and Roxy are the major sponsors for the four main surfing events.

"We're thrilled to offer beach events and activities that appeal to Brevard County residents as well as visitors to Cocoa Beach," said Heather Lewis, Marketing Director for Ron Jon.

Caitlin Simmers won the Roxy Women's Junior Pro at the 8th Annual Ron Jon Beach 'N Boards Fest at Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach.
Caitlin Simmers won the Roxy Women's Junior Pro at the 8th Annual Ron Jon Beach 'N Boards Fest at Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach.

Some notable surfing stars have emerged from the Junior Pro competitions over the years, including young WSL standouts Caitlin Simmers, the defending Women's Pro champion who is now on the major world circuit, and Alyssa Spencer, along with Evan Geiselman (currently second on the North America Qualifying Series) and Michael Dunphy, last year's Men's Pro winner and sixth on the QS..

Palm City's Zoe Benedetto, who still competes on the junior level, is ranked third on the North America Qualifying Series and in good position to advance to the Challenger Series, one step from the World Championship Tour, although she is looking for that elusive Junior Pro victory just two hours from her home on the Treasure Coast.

"(Cocoa Beach) is a wave you can prepare so much for, but it's so sporadic, you can have fun surf one day and flatness the next say, so it can be frustrating (especially) close to home, but it just pushes me to wanting to do better," said Benedetto, a Ron Jon-sponsored rider.

Sebastian Beach's Tommy Coleman, 21, won last year's Junior Pro and is 31st on the men's side of the Qualifying Series. He has committed to entering this week's Men's Pro event, part of the QS.

"It's such a sick event because everybody is there supporting, all the family and ... all my friends are home from college, everybody there," he said. "It's a sick vibe, almost like a little nerve-racking because you want perform for everybody."

Satellite Beach's Logan Radd comes in as one of the hottest area surfers as of late, winning the USA Surfing Prime East Boys Under-18 title at Ponce Inlet this past weekend.

To follow surfing brackets, click on the World Surf League site.

Schedule of events: 

Wednesday

  • 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Ron Jon/Quiksilver/Roxy surf competitions

Thursday

  • 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Ron Jon/Quiksilver/Roxy surf competitions

Friday

  • 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Ron Jon/Quiksilver/Roxy surf competitions

  • 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Billabong wakeboard demos

  • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Foil Surf racing practice

  • 1 p.m.: Ron Jon Women’s Bangers 4 Bucks skate contest

  • 1 p.m.-3 p.m.: Quiksilver Boardriders Club Surf-Off

  • 3 p.m.: RVCA Men’s Bangers 4 Bucks skate contest

Saturday:

  • 6 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tobacco Free Florida SUP & Kayak Fishing Tournament (at Cocoa Beach Country Club, sold out)

  • 7 a.m.: Roxy 5K Run/Walk

  • 7:30 a.m.: 4 p.m.: Ron Jon/Quiksilver/Roxy surf competitions

  • 8:30 a.m.: Roxy Beachy Yoga (sold out)

  • 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Oakley/Reef Beach Volleyball High School Challenge

  • 9 a.m.: Foil Surf races begin

  • Noon: Volcom sea oat planting

  • 1 p.m.: Ron Jon Women’s Bangers 4 Bucks skate contest

  • 1 p.m.: Billabong wakeboard demos

  • 1 p.m.: Foil Surf races quarterfinals (approx.)

  • 3 p.m.: RVCA Men’s Bangers 4 Bucks skate contest

  • 3 p.m.: Foil Surf races finals (approx.)

Sunday

  • 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Ron Jon/Quiksilver/Roxy surf competitions

  • 8 a.m.: FL Sports Foundation Open Water Swim (at Cocoa Beach Country Club)

  • 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Oakley/Reef Beach Volleyball High School Challenge

  • 9 a.m.: FL Sports Foundation SUP and Paddle Races (at Cocoa Beach Country Club)

  • 9 a.m.: Billabong wakeboard demos

  • Noon: Lift Foils Expression Session (approx.)

  • Noon-1:30 p.m.: Grind For Life Kids’ Skate Clinic

  • 1:45 p.m.-3 p.m.: Open skate

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Expanded Beaches 'N' Boards event showcases surfing, skating and more