Cocoa Beach Looking for City Slogan

Just about every tourist destination has a slogan, and one Brevard County city is searching for a catchphrase of its own.

Cocoa Beach Mayor Dave Netterstrom is making a big push to bring more visitors to the beachside community.

Netterstrom is asking the public to submit their ideas for a slogan for the city.

It’s part of a larger marketing effort in Cocoa Beach.

The city is currently searching to hire someone as a director of marketing and economic development, which is a new position.

If they get enough slogan ideas, the mayor said the city will hold a workshop to pick the best one.

Angry Birds™ Space Encounter Opens at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Angry Birds Space Encounter, the first comprehensive, interactive Angry Birds attraction in the United States designed for people of all ages, opened today at the Visitor Complex. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex partnered with Rovio Entertainment, creator of the globally successful Angry Birds franchise, including Angry Birds Space, to bring the beloved characters to life.

"Rovio is thrilled to partner with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to bring this unique attraction to the fans of Angry Birds," said Dan Mitchell, Rovio's director of location-based entertainment, during today's grand opening celebration at the Florida destination.

"Angry Birds Space Encounter is both a fun and educational experience," said Bill Moore, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, which operates the popular destination on Florida's Space Coast for NASA.

"Concepts of human space exploration are incorporated into Angry Birds Space Encounter, reflecting Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's ongoing mission to encourage young people in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields of study. Kids will love interacting with their favorite Angry Birds Space characters, while parents will appreciate that their children are enjoying the learning experience," Moore said.

The 4,485-square-foot Angry Birds Space Encounter, which is included in regular Visitor Complex admission, brings to life the space adventures of the Angry Birds as they follow their kidnapped eggs into an inter-galactic wormhole, come face-to-face with Space Pigs and gear up with heroic superpowers. Visitors encounter six interactive stations designed to engage and immerse guests in a new dimension of Angry Birds Space:

• Create Your Own Angry Bird – Red, green, blue or purple – Guests create their own Angry Bird by choosing from an array of body styles and accessories. When the bird is complete, guests can print their bird as a keepsake.
• Eggsteroids Slingshot – Ready, set, squawk! Guests take their best shot – slingshot, that is – at King Pig and Corporal Pig, competing with fellow players using mini Angry Birds launched in a slingshot to zap the Space Pigs.
• Cold Cuts Tile Puzzle – Guests line up a universe of planets and Angry Birds to solve sliding puzzles, with three levels of difficulty, featuring images of Super Red, Ice Bird, The Incredible Terence and Space King, Pig in a Bubble.
• Danger Zone – Proceed with caution! The Danger Zone features a mirrored labyrinth challenge to find the hidden Angry Birds. Guests discover surprises along the way.
• Red Planet Lazer Challenge – The Angry Birds need help finding their prized golden eggs! Guests journey to the surface of the Red Planet to search for the mythical eggs but need to watch out for lazer beams that create obstacles along the course, making the mission more difficult.
• Angry Birds Game Zone – Guests can play the actual Angry Birds Space game in a tournament against fellow guests, mastering selected levels and discovering little known hints to zap the pigs.

An Angry Birds Space photo opportunity also is available, as is Angry Birds merchandise.

NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, Ph.D., who previously announced from the International Space Station that NASA and Rovio would partner on the creation of the Angry Birds Space game, was also on hand for the grand opening.

"NASA and Rovio have worked together to teach players about physics and space exploration and energize young people regarding future careers in science and technology," Pettit said.

The original idea for Angry Birds Space came in a Twitter message from @NASA to Rovio that said: "Hey @RovioMobile, our computers are a bit better than they were in '69. We might be able to help you launch birds if you find pigs in space."

That tweet was the starting point for conversations that eventually led to NASA's partnership with Rovio and the creation of the Angry Birds Space game and Angry Birds Space Encounter at the Visitor Complex.

Entertainment Design Group Inc. of Austell, Ga., developed, built and installed the Angry Birds Space Encounter at the Visitor Complex under the direction of NASA and Delaware North.

The opening of Angry Birds Space Encounter comes a few months before the Visitor Complex will celebrate the grand opening of the new $100 million home of Space Shuttle Atlantis June 29.  

Slater in Semis of Surf Contest

Cocoa Beach's Kelly Slater has gotten off to a fast start in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the opening stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour.

The 11-time ASP World champion and 2012 runner-up has put up big scores throughout the tournament, reaching the semifinals after defeating Bede Durbidge in the quarterfinals with an 18.03 score.

“That was a fun heat and it definitely improved for me towards the end,” Slater said. “I’m on a new board so I didn’t feel great during the start of that heat, but it felt better with each wave and was feeling really good by the end. The waves are fun and really improved following the hold. When it’s clean like it is this afternoon, after the hold anyway, Snapper is a really fun wave.”

Slater will face two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) Mick Fanning in the semifinals.

“Mick (Fanning) and I have a lot of history together,” Slater said. “We both put our competitive heads on during events and he has a lot of experience out here. The home town crowd will be backing him big time and that’s always fun. Should be a good heat.”

Cocoa Beach Leaders Want to Build College Sand Volleyball Reputation

Cocoa Beach is known for its surfing, but now it wants to be known for its serves and spikes.

City leaders are hoping to make Cocoa Beach the capital of college sand volleyball.

For the first time, a collegiate sand volleyball tournament was held at Shepard Park beach.

College and university teams from across Florida and the south came to compete at Cocoa Beach.

The sport, which has grown in popularity with the Summer Olympics, became an NCAA emerging sport for women in 2011.

“Actually I was going to play indoor, and then at the last minute I heard beach (volleyball) was starting, NCAA’s new sport and it ended up working perfectly for me,” said Julie Basset, a Stetson University sand volleyball player.

The University of Central Florida hosted the Cocoa Beach tournament.

Even though they don’t have a sand volleyball team yet, they are considering adding the sport.

“Thirteen schools or so started last year and it’s just growing and growing,” said UCF Assistant Volleyball Coach Nicki Holmes. “We expect the NCAA to actually have a championship in two to three years.”

If that happens, Cocoa Beach wants to be considered as a site.

“We’re interested in exploring that with the community to see if Cocoa Beach can possibly become a destination on the East Coast for tournaments, training, for practice, for anything that might be involved with sand court volleyball,” said Cocoa Beach City Manager Bob Majka.

Majka hopes it can put the city on the sand volleyball map.

“That transcends itself into the future, people tend to remember that,” said Majka. “They may be in college now and maybe in 15 or 20 years from now and they’re looking for somewhere to go with the family, they’ll remember us and they’ll want to come back.”

The sport also attracts a crowd, bringing more people to the area.

“It’s just an all-around fun sport, basically hanging out at the beach,” said Kaley Melville, a Stetson University sand volleyball player.

It’s fun to play and fun to watch, and something Cocoa Beach considers a valuable sport as it continues to grow.

Inaugural Beach 'N Boards Fest

COCOA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The first-ever Beach 'N Boards Fest, which is presented by Ron Jon Surf Shop and will be held in Cocoa Beach March 6-10, 2013, offers a variety of activities including an action-sports themed X-Dance outdoor film festival, diverse lineup of live musical acts, a collegiate volleyball tournament hosted by UCF and board sports. 

The Beach 'N Boards Fest will offer a wide-range of board sports in a competitive or exhibition format including surf, skate, skim, paddle and stand-up paddle, wind surfing and kite boarding.  The event will also feature a collegiate and ASP-rated junior pro surfing competition. 

The environmentally-friendly Beach 'N Boards Fest is a collaboration between Ron Jon Surf Shop and local event promoter Mitch Varnes.  The event is targeted to Florida residents as well as families and college students from along the East Coast.  

"Ron Jon Surf Shop is pleased to present the inaugural Beach 'N Boards Fest," said Debbie Harvey, president and COO of Ron Jon Surf Shop.  "We're thrilled to be working with Mitch Varnes to bring events and activities that appeal to the coveted younger demographic to Cocoa Beach."

The ASP men's and women's pro surfing tournament, Ron Jon/Roxy Junior Pro and Ron Jon/Quiksilver Junior Pro kicks off the event on March 6 at Shepard Park.  Live music will be offered March 7-9 from 3:30 p.m.- 6 p.m.  The X-Dance Film Festival, sponsored by Go-Pro, will present films from 6:15-8:30 p.m. March  7-9. 

For a complete event listing and more information, visit www.beachnboardsfest.com.