Dogs Catch Waves at East Coast Dog Surfing Festival
In her heyday, Surf Pig was an awesome dudette who dominated the waves during the annual East Coast Dog Surfing Festival. The amazing little Jack Russell terrier was a veritable Kelly Slater on a surfboard, even though she only possessed three legs.
Unfortunately, when the East Coast Dog Surfing Festival returns to Lori Wilson Park for its 11th run on April 9, Surf Pig will not be hanging 10, or in her case, four.
“Surf Pig passed away in 2019,” said Theresa Clifton, who as executive director of the Brevard Humane Society launched the festival as an opportunity to raise funds for the nonprofit shelter, as well as to raise awareness of how much fun hanging out with dogs can be.
Alas, Surf Pig is gone, but her closest rival, yellow Labrador Lily, is still very much around and is now the event’s reigning champ.
“She will be here to defend her title from last year,” added Clifton.
One of quirkiest events to hit the Space Coast shoreline, the Dog Surfing Festival not only raises a little cash for the animal charity, but also provides a grand day at the beach with furry pals.
Presented this year by Ron John Surf Shop, the festival runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 9, at Lori Wilson Park, 1500 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach.
This stretch of beach is not usually accessible to the canine species, but a special dispensation is made that day, and dogs are welcome on the sand and the surf, as long as pet parents pay the $5 per pooch admission fee that will help the Humane Society care for the homeless animals under its wing. Humans are admitted free.
For dogs unfamiliar with surfing, lessons will be provided between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for $10 per dog.
The official East Coast Dog Surfing Championship will be held at noon, when furry surfers will vie for top-dog title. John Gall, Surf Pig’s human, will be one of the judges. Entry fee for the event is $25 per dog.
Human surfers are welcome during the festival and will receive a set of nifty bunny ears for the 9 a.m. Bunny Paddle Out.
As if surfing dogs were not endearingly enough a crowd magnet, the festival also features a Doggy Best Easter Outfit competition at 10 a.m. and a Doggy Bikini Contest at 1 p.m. Vendors, food and music will also be part of the festivities.
This Easter Sunday, somewhere over the Rainbow Bridge, Surf Pig will be cheering “cowabunga” as dogs big and small enjoy her favorite pastime.
For more Dog Surfing Festival information, call 321-636-3343, extension 204, or email director@brevardhumanesociety.org.
A brief history of dog surfing
The unusual sport of dog surfing originates from that mecca for the sport, California. Kevin Reed, author of “The Dog’s Guide to Surfing,” approached the Loews® Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego with the idea of a dog festival, which quickly attracted so much attention that similar competitions were soon popping up around the world.
The most famous dog surfer is golden retriever Ricochet. The San Diego pooch, one of the original dog surfers, was a year old when she began competing professionally at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog Competition, but she first balanced on a boogie board in a kiddie pool when she was only 8 weeks old.
During her career, Richochet typically placed in the top three slots of competition and surfed alongside professional surfers of the human variety. She is known as a SURFice dog because she also surfed with individuals with disabilities and wounded warriors. Judy Fridono of the nonprofit Puppy Prodigies Neo-Natal & Early Learning Program trained the talented canine originally as a service dog.
Now 15, Ricochet is battling liver cancer, and although she’s surfed her final wave, she’s still an active therapy dog working with service members and veterans with PTSD. She has appeared with Oprah and on MTV, been featured by NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News and Animal Planet, and has been the subject of a biography.
Learn more: surfdogricochet.com
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