SOFL makes Special Olympics and Surfing History with Ron Jon!

Special Olympics Florida and Ron Jon Surf Shop, through its affiliated Ron Jon Surf School, partnered to bring the first-ever sanctioned surfing activities and instruction to Special Olympics athletes.

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, eight Brevard County athletes got started with an afternoon of instruction and education at the Cocoa Beach, Fla.-based Ron Jon Surf School.  The athletes will participate in a series of weekly lessons to help them hone their skills and build upon what they learned at the kick-off event.

The afternoon featured an opening safety orientation, one-on-one interaction between the Special Olympics athletes and the experienced team of professionals at the surf school and some relaxation and fun on the beach.

By the end of the first day each of the eight Special Olympics athletes were able to stand up on their boards and ride a wave in!

Led by surf-industry veteran Craig Carroll, the Ron Jon Surf School is the largest and most experienced surf academy in Florida and the Southeast.  Carroll, a former professional surfer who has surfed in Cocoa Beach for more than 40 years, has operated the surf school since 1993.

"Surfers consider themselves members of a family, and that family welcomes people from all walks of life,” said Craig Carroll, founder of Ron John Surf School.  "Those with intellectual disabilities will not only be accepted as part of the surfing culture, they will be embraced and encouraged in their efforts."

For Special Olympics Florida, having the ability to open the world of surfing to its athletes is both an exciting and groundbreaking opportunity: “the chance to introduce surfing instruction, competition, and the culture and lifestyle of surfing to Special Olympic athletes is truly unique and a first for the Special Olympics movement,” said Special Olympics Florida President Monty Castevens, adding “Ron Jon has set in motion something that has great potential to benefit many, many more Special Olympics athletes, all while giving them the skills to enjoy the sport of surfing with their friends, families, and the broader surfing community, for the rest of their lives.”

Ron Jon Surf Shop is providing all the gear and equipment necessary and cover all costs associated with the program.  The surf school will work closely with the athletes to ensure they are provided the safest environment in which to enjoy their introduction to surfing.

Debbie Harvey, president and COO of Ron Jon Surf Shop was on hand for the June 5 event: "We are excited to partner with Special Olympics Florida to provide this wonderful organization with a unique opportunity to expand its program offerings. As surfing enthusiasts, we look forward to hosting these athletes and hope that they will come to love the sport as much as we do."

See photos from first day

Photos from 6-24-10: see their progress!

Check out this awesome video of the day, produced by the folks at Ron Jon!

Watch Video from 6-24-10 Practice

Ron Jon Surf Shop was founded in 1959 by surfing enthusiast Ron DiMenna.  Two years later, he opened a tiny oceanside shop in Long Beach Island, N.J. The lifestyle-apparel and board-sports-equipment retailer has since opened stores in Cocoa Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Ft. Myers, Key West, Panama City Beach, Fla., as well as Myrtle Beach, S.C. The flagship store in Cocoa Beach is the world's largest surf shop.  It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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