Surfing canines let ’er rip at event in Huntington Beach
“When pigs fly” is a euphemism used when something appears unlikely.
“When dogs surf,” though, cannot be used in a similar context.
Surf dogs gathered Friday morning at Huntington State Beach, along with their trainers, for the 25th annual Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional competition.
Sugar, an 11-year-old female surf dog from Huntington Beach, again came out on top in the canine competition at the break off Brookhurst Street.
She won her second straight large surf dog title at the Purina event, topping Faith, a pit bull terrier from El Cajon owned by James Wall, 18.75 to 17.75 points in the final heat.
Newport Beach’s Cherie, a 10-year-old French bulldog, won the small surf dog competition with trainer Dan Nykolayko. Cherie rode a long wave all the way to shore in the final minute of her last heat, likely the difference in a 12.25 to 11.75 victory over defending champion Gidget, a female pug from San Clemente trained by Alecia Nelson.
Sugar’s trainer, Ryan Rustan, was emotional after the final ride earned his dog her third Purina title. He said it was in honor of his father, Rusty, who died on March 18.
“He was the biggest supporter of me and Sugar,” Rustan said. “I’m 40 years old, and he always said, ‘Keep surfing with your dog, son, keep doing it, I love it.’ Other people go, ‘What are you doing with your life?’ but my dad was so stoked.”
Ryan Rustan’s strategy is typically to take Sugar out further to get big waves, but it can be a boom-or-bust strategy, particularly in calmer conditions. But Sugar came through with the win, like she usually does.
“We’re waiting longer for a set while they’re catching these medium waves,” Rustan said. “It’s almost like gambling. You don’t know if the set’s going to come or not ... I’m always nervous.”
Nykolayko said that Cherie, who has been surfing for 10 years, took third last year in the small dog competition.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” he said. “We always want to come down, have fun and have a good time. With Cherie getting older, I don’t want to push her too hard. We go out and look for waves that we think are going to be smooth and fun. She goes in on a few, then we come in and enjoy the rest of the morning on the beach.”
The camaraderie between the trainers was clear, with some of them assisting during the rides of other dogs.
Each heat was 10 minutes long and scored by two judges.
Kioni “Kentucky” Gallahue and his goldendoodle, Derby, of San Diego, placed third in the large dog category. Each sported matching blue Mohawk-style cuts.
Gallahue moved from Atlanta six years ago with Derby and was learning how to surf at the time. Soon, Derby did too.
“We do the whole circuit,” he said. “It’s good to see all of the other dogs and everything ... We’re out here to have fun and put smiles on people’s faces.”
The Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge concludes Saturday at Huntington State Beach with a variety of other competitions, including agility, diving dog, 30-weave up-and-back, Fetch It! and freestyle flying disc.
The action is free and open to the public and will be held between Beach Boulevard and Newland Street.
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