And as the drums roll to induct the legends into Surf City’s Hall of Fame let’s paws to celebrate Sugar the surfur of Huntington Beach.
Sugar, a Collie mix, holds a unique position in the surfing world.
As the first, and as yet, only mutt to be enlisted in the Californian town’s Surfing Home of Fame.
Huntington Beach’s status as the centre of the surfing world is assured.
Though maybe not mention that in rival claimant Santa Cruz, who claim they’re the birthplace of the sport.
But all disputes aside, and my friends in SC were keen to play that down.
As they promoted their fares to me at the American Travel Fair in Chicago last month, everyone can sing Sugar’s praises.
Herein hangs a tail
Because as they say in Sugar the Surfing Dog’s case, herein hangs a tail.
And one that in the land of the moving picture ought really to be a Hollywood blockbuster.
Because Sugar, much like Bob in the British true story A Streetcat Named Bob, turned her owner’s life around full circle.
HB native Ryan Rustan had been battling mental health and drug issues.
But he cleaned up in his 20s when Oakland rescue dog Sugar came into his life.
And she went on to wing 19 surfing titles across her career including multiple World Dog Surfing Championships, Surf City Surf Dog and Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge titles.
Because as all you devoted readers here know and I found out one spring morning over breakfast in Ballsbridge, Dublin with our HB visitors dog surfing is definitely a thang.
And on that occasion it was labrador Bono whose achievements we were recognising.
With, of course, me being professionally incapable of avoiding asking if Bono surfed the waves in his shades.
Follow in Sugar’s pawsteps
We do hope that Sugar’s elevation to Hall of Fame status will push on other surfing dogs to follow in her pawsteps.
And we’ll be following Sugar’s progress and our other pooch pals on SURFER website.
Not that 14-year-old Sugar’s surfing days are behind her with Ryan promising his pooch .
That he will take her to Waikiki, the real birthplace of surfing, as a treat.
‘She does a lot of surf therapy for lots of kids,’ he said.
‘It’s not just [about] surfing against people but also putting smiles on the little kids’ faces and the athletes that are disabled. She gets to ride with them.’
Dogg days
This year’s deserving inductees into the Surf City Hall of Fame are world champion and Olympic gold medalist Caroline Marks.
Outstanding surf photographer Tom Servais and HB local standout surfer Dwight Dunn.
All taking their place alongside Sugar the surfur of Huntington Beach.
HB, of course, ought to be on everyone’s to-do list when in Los Angeles, just an hour north of Surf City USA.
And, if you are lucky enough, you might see another famous Dogg down there doing one of his sets.
And you thought I make all this stuff, well here are the pictures to prove it.
