- April 17, 2024
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Willie Good Dog, left, and Tank show off canine surfing skills at the 2023 Hang 8 Dog Surfing contest Saturday, May 20, in Flagler Beach. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Lily, a yellow lab, seems to smile after catching a wave. Lily and her human, Mike Vogt, attended last year’s Hang 8 and decided to enter this year making the trip from Port St. Lucie. “She had fun,” Vogt said after the Big Dog Heat. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Charlie Brown conquers big surf conditions to score a perfect 10 in the 2023 Hang 8 Dog Surfing Contest at Flagler Beach on Saturday, May 20. The goldendoodle surfs once or twice a week with Finley, a student at Fletcher Middle School in Jacksonville Beach, and her dad, Kenneth Lamb. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
More than 50 dogs checked in at the Hang 8 Dog Surfing booth to compete in the tandem surfing, big dog division, costume contest or small dog division held at Flagler Beach on Saturday, May 20. The entries and crowds more than doubled last year’s inaugural event. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Tank grips the board with all fours in the big surf at Flagler Beach in the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Contest. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Defending champion, Mohawk Maui, makes it look easy in the Hang 8 event Saturday, May 20, at Flagler Beach. Housemate Charlie Brown took the 2023 title. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Chica and Keris Martinez, both from Miami, wait for the next heat of dog surfers. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Nine-year-old Jocelyn Shelhamer holds her dog, Fabulous. “We came to see all the dogs surfing,” Shelhamer said. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Nick DeSantis, aka The Dog Father, captures images of dog surfing competitors at Flagler Beach. DeSantis served as one of the costume contest judges and is a canine advocate volunteering for several organizations in the county. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Willie Good Dog seeks extra points by facing the tail of the board in the Hang 8 contest on May 20. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Katie Greene hands a sample of BUBBL'R Antioxidant Sparkling Water to a thirsty observer at the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Contest on May 20. SR Perrott, a local beverage wholesaler, handed out 306 cans of the flavored sparkling water to introduce the brand in Florida. The BUBBL’R brand also provided 150 dog toys for tail-wagging attendees. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Rayne makes it look easy while keeping an eye on the shoreline for owners Patty Blair and Josh Gunter. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Natty the Baddy, Cassie Triplett’s pup, models a Flagler Beach Pier costume before the Hang 8 costume contest. “I thought of it last year, so I had time to work on it,” Triplett said. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Rasta Teddy steals the spotlight on the red carpet during Saturday's Hang 8 Dog Surfing costume contest at Flagler Beach. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Palm Coast’s own Itty Bitty struts her stuff on the red carpet dressed as a baby shark at the Hang 8 dog costume contest. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
“Under the Sea” plays on the loudspeaker as Hang 8 co-organizer, Eric Cooley, walks the red carpet with his pup, Wednesday. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Jauxniece Palmer and Chloe, left, pose with friends Margaret Demao and Bee Harper on the Hang 8 costume contest red carpet Saturday, May 20, at Flagler Beach. Chloe wears a pink shark costume while Bee Harper attracts attention as a bee hive. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Hang 8 Dog Surfing event announcer Travis Ajay, left, invites canine pirate Finn and his human, David Cork, right, to walk the costume contest red carpet. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Owner Jeff Ryan and several spectators praise Tank as he returns to the beach after three successful rides in the Hang 8 Surf Contest. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Elvis Presley’s “You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog” wafted through the salty Flagler Beach air Saturday, May 20, to kick off the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Contest Big Dogs Heat. Canine competitors were judged on safety, having fun, quality of the wave and other skills like barking, turning around or riding backward.
At the end of the second heat, goldendoodle Charlie Brown snagged a gnarly perfect 10, edging out last year’s champ and roommate Mohawk Maui, who caught some radical waves in the first heat.
Hang 8 Dog Surfing is the brainchild of Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston and City Commissioner Eric Cooley.
After seeing “Pups and Sups” in St. Augustine Beach, the couple thought it would be perfect for Flagler Beach, even though dogs are usually prohibited on the city’s beaches. They anticipated 50 spectators and five dogs in 2022. The actual numbers far exceeded their expectations and doubled in 2023.
Keris Martinez heard about the event and drove from Miami to combine her first wedding anniversary with the opportunity to enter Chica in a surf contest. Martinez was surprised at the size of the event and disappointed in the surf. “It’s too big for Chica today,” Martinez said. But they intend to come back next year.
Travis Ajay, surf contest announcer, declared that Nick DeSantis had the best human outfit of the day – a colorful shirt with a variety of dog illustrations and “The Dog Father” emblazoned on the back. DeSantis seeks to rescue as many dogs as possible and volunteers with several local organizations to make that happen.
Not including the Dog Kissing Booth, 26 vendors participated in the Hang 8 Dog Surfing event, handing out merchandise samples and offering canine services or adoption opportunities. While attendance numbers are not available, the estimate was more than 1,000.
The Hang 8 Dog Surfing event benefits the Flagler County Humane Society, SMART Pet Rescue and K9s for Warriors.
