Sugar, the celebrated canine surfer who charmed many with her skills and won the World Dog Surfing Championship five times, has sadly passed away after a fight with cancer. She was 16 years old.
This iconic “surf dog” left the world in the early hours of Monday, cradled by her owner, Ryan Rustan. Sugar’s legacy helped elevate an offbeat beach activity to international acclaim.
In the weeks leading up to her passing, Sugar rode one last wave—a perfect send-off for the dog credited with transforming the sport of dog surfing.
Rustan shared the heart-wrenching news on social media, expressing, “She absolutely loved you guys!! She lived to put smiles on faces, volunteer, to send it!! To change dog surfing forever!!!”
Many would agree that Sugar fulfilled that mission.
Far from being a mere spectacle, Sugar was a trailblazer. She became the first animal to be honored in the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, securing her place in California’s surfing history.
Off the board, her impact was just as strong. Sugar worked with surf therapy groups and visited veterans at the VA Hospital in Long Beach, spreading the same joy on land that she did in the water.
