Don Niemann on upcoming Ron Jon Beach 'N Boards Fest

 

Ron Jon Surf Shop announced that it is hosting the first ever Beach’N Boards Festival one block from its store in Cocoa Beach, Florida next week from March 6th to March 10th.

 




The event brings together of variety of activities from a college beach volleyball tournament, standup paddleboarding and skimboarding to an ASP 3-star Junior Pro Surfing Event as well as the X-Dance Film Festival.

 

Beach N Boards fest

The Beach ‘N Boards Fest was a big investment for Ron Jon. Don Niemann, Director of Merchandise Buying for the company said the goal of the event is to make Cocoa Beach more of a Spring Break destination, and to target college aged students and families, which will help Ron Jon Surf Shop’s business as well as the whole Cocoa Beach community.

 

“We run events all the time but there isn’t anything on the East Coast that is a tribute to the whole industry,” said Don Niemann. “And we are trying to do some things with a lot of brands that are different,” he added.

 

Don NiemannRon Jon’s Don Niemann

Besides watersports events, Ron Jon is hosting a collegiate volleyball tournament, which Don said is a big deal, especially since this is the first year the NCAA has officially recognized women’s beach volleyball as a college sport. Goal Zero will sponsor the volleyball portion, and Don said they have been working with local colleges on promoting the event through social media.

 

I asked Don if volleyball was an important sport for Ron Jon shops. “Volleyball can be important to our business,” he said, “but the event is really about all action sports. That’s why it’s a Beach and Boards fest. We really want to promote the beach lifestyle and this is what Florida is all about,” he said.

 

The event is billed as alcohol free. Ron Jon also aims to make the event environmentally friendly. Stages are powered by solar, the company is planting sea oats (beach grass) on the beach, and Ron Jon is trying to make sure trash is compostable.

 

While Ron Jon is the main sponsor of the event and investing the most dollars to make it happen, Don said there are a lot of brands that have jumped on board.

 

Ron JOnA collegiate volleyball tournament is part of the action next week in Cocoa Beach

Along with Ron Jon who is the main sponsor, Quiksilver is co-sponsoring the ASP 3-star Junior Pro Surf Contest on the men’s side while Roxy is co-sponsoring the event on the women’s side.

 

Besides Quiksilver, Don said GoPro is sponsoring three nights of movies and working with the X-Dance Film Festival. GoPro is also presenting demos in store and video screens at the beach. Skullcandy is presenting three nights of live music and bringing their mobile “Crusher” to the event. Zap Skimboards is hosting a skimboard event.

 

Billabong is hosting a wakeboard demo in the ocean. Olukai is sponsoring a SUP event. Ron Jon Surf School is holding kite demos. Oakley is sponsoring a skate contest in Ron Jon’s parking lot. Element is bringing its “No Board Left Behind” program to the skate event. Volcom is making co-branded GWP T-shirts. Lastly, Hurley is bringing live artists to paint an art wall, and also a mobile water truck to give away free water, Don said.

 

Besides event T-shirts, there are no retail sales on the beach at the event. “It’s not about that,” said Don when asked why Ron Jon is not having a store on the sand. “The whole event is only a block from our store anyway, and we will have lots of stuff happening inside all week long,” he added.

 

This is the first time Ron Jon has hosted an event of this scale. Don said they expect at least 7,000 people per day, but really won’t know a number until the event takes place.

 

“All we know is the whole city is really excited right now.”

 

 

 

 

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