29th Annual NKF Rich Salick Pro/Am Surf Festival
Surf Festival at the Cocoa Beach Pier
- July 17, 2014
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- By Story/Photos By NKF
The Pro-Am Surfing Program revolves around the story of Richard K. Salick. Richard along with his brother Phil, both surfing professionals, founded the Cocoa Beach Surfing Festival twenty seven years ago as a way to help raise funds to fight kidney disease and help dialysis patients.
It was 1976, only two years out from his first kidney transplant that he began focusing attention on the plights of other kidney patients. That year, he and his brother Phil and the Salick Surfboards Surfing Team put together a surfing competition at Cocoa Beach. The twins would, literally, hand carry a bundle of cash to various dialysis units for needy patients. The first event raised $125. The yearly competition continued, but $1600 was the largest amount of money raised. After the Birth of his two sons Philip (76) and David (84) Rich was certain that his health was solid. Nothing is better than being out in the surf with your children! Then in 1985 at the urging of Craig Tisher, MD, then Chief of Nephrology and Hypertension at the University of Florida,(now Dean of Medicine) and Region 2 Vice-President of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the event took on National sponsorship and became the NKF Florida Team Invitational Pro-Am Surfing Tournament. That first event grossed more than $60,000 and funds were directed to seed the National Kidney Foundations' Research Endowment Fund.
This festival is the largest charitable surfing festival in the world and has been attended by thousands including world class surfers for the past 27 years. Started by 2 professional surfers themselves, Rich and Phil Salick this event has grown tremendously and made it possible for the NKF of Florida to support programs in patient services, public and professional education, and organ donation.
On July 2nd, 2012, hundreds of people around the world were shocked with the news that our beloved Richard K. Salick had passed away during emergency surgery. The 27th annual event was renamed in Rich's honor to the NKF Rich Salick Pro-Am Surfing Festival. The legacy and memory will live on in each and every person that Richard touched and inspired during his lifetime.
Registration Party
Pre-Register with no late fees on Friday, August 29th at Oh Shucks on the Cocoa Beach Pier. Professional and amateur registrations will be accepted no later than 8 pm. Media and Press are welcome to come and pick up press packets and badges. Enjoy live music and free food as we kick off the Surf Festival weekend!
Amateur/Professional Surf Contest
Amateur and professional surfing competition will begin at 9:00 am on Saturday and Sunday at the Cocoa Beach Pier. All finals and team surfing competition will take place on Monday at the Cocoa Beach Pier. Pre-register online or at the registration party on Friday night.
Saturday Night Concert at the Pier
A tentative concert will take place Saturday night at the pier. Come enjoy live music from the DaVita band and a surprise guest for a donation.
Taste of Brevard & Silent Auction
The Taste of Brevard and Silent Auction will take place on August 31 from 6:00-10:00 pm at the Radisson at the Port. The event, sponsored by Regions Bank and the Elebash Family, is Cocoa Beach's Tropical Fundraising Party of the Year!
For the whole scoop on this year's event check out their website...
www.nkfsurf.com
