Easter Surfing Festival Rides Tide of Change
April 10th - 12th, 2009 Cocoa Beach
- March 24, 2009
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- By Story/Photos By Ingrid Matta
Any event that’s been around for nearly half a century experiences change, and the 45th Annual Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival April 10-12, 2009 at Cocoa Beach’s Shepard Park is no exception.
The Fest began in 1964 by the Cocoa Beach Jaycees and was enthusiastically embraced by the City Council. In fact, there was a special surfing heat exclusively for council members. The Jaycees operated the Fest for several years, but when “Waverider” magazine owner John Griffin purchased the event in 1979, he and surf legend Dick Catri took the reins and have run the Fest ever since.
Catri and Griffin both head American Promotional Services and Catri has promoted contests since the ‘70s, and early on he and Griffin enlisted the services of the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) to help kick off the event’s success. The ESA used the event to help with membership and fundraising. Giving the Fest notoriety was the fact that it launched a lot of east coast competitors into great competitive success. The festival boasted great crowds, rock concert talent, and bikini contests.
It was an event in and of itself, even without waves. But over the years, the nature of the event changed, along with society itself. When alcohol consumption, rock concerts and bikini contests were headline attractions, the athletic competition was somewhat secondary, according to Catri.
But as attitudes shifted from alcohol consumption, and scantily clad women, the surfing took over the stage. Moreover, rock concerts became cost prohibitive with bands, sound stage, police and such being a logistical and financial burden.
“In the last six years, the Easter Surfing Festival has become more of a family event—a way to use the beach—come out and have a good time,” says Catri. “It’s safe. There are lifeguards, paramedics, and security.” Helping promote education as well, for the young boys and girls division the purse money is earmarked for scholarships, thanks to the contribution of attorney Steve Casanova. Casanova, a surfer himself, is a generous sponsor of surfing events.
To help ensure a quality event, organizers don’t use volunteer help. “It’s a first class surfing event,” says Catri, who describes the competition: four in a heat; two advance; five judges; high/low scores thrown out; head judges rules; tabulators; timers and other professionals. He adds that the event begins with a complete beach cleanup and ends with a clean-up that even extends beyond the boundary of the festival.
While reduced sponsorships have concerned many event organizers due to the nation’s economic slow-down, Catri and Griffin ensure a great event nevertheless. Most spectators are not likely to complain about reduced prize money, and entrants will applaud the reduced entry fee.
The largest advertised surfing event on the east coast with exposure exceeding 50 million impressions can also boast the title sponsorship of world renowned Ron Jon Surf Shop, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. “We also put on an event that the people of Cocoa Beach and the Tourist Development Council can be proud of,” says Catri. “We are also looking forward to working with all the worthwhile non-profit and environmental organizations that will have valuable information to share.”
Things do change, and the Catri/Griffin team have seen to it that the Easter Surfing Festival delivers the goods. Catri admits that it is rewarding to see surfing progress the way it has, and away from the hippie image of the past. “We’re talking about finely tuned athletes here, and it’s also rewarding to see this all transpire, and how the East Coast can contribute.”
For more information on the Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival go to www.eastersurffest.com.