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Sugar — the wave-riding pup who became a five-time World Dog Surfing champion and a fixture on Huntington Beach — has died after a battle with cancer. She was 16.
The beloved “surf dog” passed away early Monday morning in the arms of her owner, Ryan Rustan, marking the end of a run that helped turn a quirky beach pastime into a global phenomenon.
Just weeks before her death, Sugar caught one final wave — a fitting farewell for the dog many credit with redefining the sport.
Rustan shared the news in an emotional social media post, writing, “She absolutely loved you guys!! she lived to put smiles on faces, volunteer, to send it !! to change dog surfing forever !!!”
And by most accounts, she did exactly that.
Sugar wasn’t just a novelty — she was a pioneer. She became the first animal ever inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, cementing her place in California surf lore.
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.
English (US)