Little Dude - from rescue dog to surf star, to blind surf dog. My most amazing dog son of all.

Barbara Ayers August 19, 2017

Little Dude, my third surf dog son - went home two different years with top surf dog prizes at the Loews Coronado Surf Dog Contest. That was in 2007 and 2009, surfing in San Diego, California at Imperial Beach. Check out the action of cool dogs, including Dude, in this YouTube - Dude rides about 1:30 in:

Dude was the underdog of the family - Elvis, my alpha basset hound was first in the lineup for this contest- but he chickened out when he saw the storm surf that day. I don't blame him - it was awful weather and a challenging rip tide had us all worried about safety.

Dude proved that #2 tries harder. He stepped right up, and took it all in stride. He rode wild waves - all the way to shore - with a remarkable laid-back style.

That was the day we dropped "Little" off of his name - from that day forward, he was the Dude.

He won awards for surfing waves by himself - and surfing tandem with me. But hey- we're not about winning - we're all about sharing the fun. Sharing the ride.

Dude and me at the Surf Dog Contest. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DOgDiary.org

Years later, Dude went blind. And still he surfed.

He stepped right up - and took it all in stride. He taught me more than anyone else about overcoming adversity. About not letting setbacks hold you back. About riding the ups and downs - the waves of life.

Here he is, pup SUPping (standup paddle boarding) with his two dog brothers and I on the Columbia River. He also windsurfed blind. No biggie.

Dude lived aloha spirit, each and every day. He was always up for an adventure.

Dude lives forever in our hearts - he may well be my most amazing surf dog of all. RIP Dudester. We miss your heart, your snores and your laid back style!

Surf dog mom Barb Ayers

Dog jibe (downwind turn.) It used to be a 2-dog or 3-dog jibe on board, when we first started doing King of the Hook. Photo by Steve Schmidt, (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Not exactly King of the Hook

Barbara Ayers August 13, 2017

There's one rule in windsurfing: don't leave wind to find wind.

So, yesterday it was hard to pack up the 7'11” Open Ocean short board and de rig the 3.7 Ezzy sail – while the wind still howled on classic 20-30mph Gorge windsurfing day.

I left wind, pulled out a board longer than my car, and went back to the Hook, home of almost no wind. That place where beginners first learn to windsurf. Here in Hood River, Oregon, windsurf capital of the world.

Hood River's windsurfing learning pond - The Hook. Doodle and contestants at King of the Hook, August 12, 2017. This is our favorite low wind board, a Starboard that is a combo SUP/windsurf board. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

My dogs and I do this crazy old school windsurfing romp each year - King of the Hook, hosted by CGWA, Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Assn. We support our local non profit, dedicated to enhancing Gorge beach access, and bringing up the next windsurfing generation. I'm a proud board member.

King of the Hook style! Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Speaking of boards, King of the Hook is not your classic Gorge hotshot windsurfing freestyle contest – big moves, big winds, short boards, adoring fans, ego beach.

It’s all about long boards and old school freestyle and costumes and attitude. There's not a serious sailor in sight – but it attracts its share of hotshot young sailors. And people like me, who don't take themselves too seriously.

That's the official King of the Hook 2017 in the water, with his adoring fans. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Doxie on 1987 Mistral Superlight - a still life. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I have always been a believer in just showing up.

Being the best - winning - it's so over rated!

Doodle and I’ve got 'tude - but we don't got freestyle.

That is, unless a doxie on board and cherried-out costumes count as freestyle.

Our old school 1987 Mistral Superlight on the beach, a tribute to the early days of windsurfing.

Dog River and Dog Mountain license plates on board - literally - hanging from the boom as we compete.

But we always come home with a prize. Everyone does!

Wardrobe and decoration malfunctions. Our Dog River / Dog Mountain license plates almost fell in the drink; the cherry sprigs on my hat and Doodle's cherry booty bag caught on the sail when we tacked or jibed. And it was a no wind day - it was hard to look Kingly. Photo by Steve Schmidt, (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

We love kid Kings of the Hook. This year, there were two brothers windsurfing in formal wear - top hats and ties.

And a girl nose rider on board with her mom - who I nominate as Queen of the Hook. She's about six, just learning to windsurf. These groms are the future of our sport - it's exciting to sail with them!

Top hats and hood ornaments - the kids were the stars of King of the Hook! My nomination for Queen of the Hook is the girl on the right and that's my King on the left. Photo by Steve Schmidt, (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Doodle and I were "all cherried out" - a nod to our home town of Mosier, cherry central. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

It was kinda hard this year - just Doodle and I - no low rider wide-body bassets on board, solid and reliable. Big and flashy dogs of the hook. Just us two squirrels.

I wore Elvis and Dude name tags as part of my costume.

Dude rode The King every year, even after he went blind. Elvis was the king of doggie windsurfing and SUP.

They are my twin totems, my forever Kings of the Hook. This is the first year we rode without them.

RIP, dear old dog friends.

Just found on YouTube - 1990's national TV interview with my first surfing dog, Howdy - made my day!

Barbara Ayers August 11, 2017

Click on the picture above or CLICK HERE.

I just found this Animal Planet TV story on YouTube, from the early 1990's - my first dog son, Howdy Doody. Together we windsurfed, skurfed behind ski boats and surfed waves at our favorite beach, OB's Dog Beach in San Diego .

I miss my first bassador - basset/lab - Dog Beach ambassador. He is the dog that started it all - windsurfing was all his idea. Dude and later Doodle were named after the late great Howdy Doody.

Howdy was the first Windsurfing Dog I ever heard of, and the second surfing dog ever. Back then, we did a ton of national media interviews, trying to rally support for the Dog Beach Improvement Project.

There was a magazine spread in PetLife, stories in San Diego Union Tribune, Beach and Bay Press, local TV and all the major networks. What a rush! Special thanks to Ann, a San Diego TV viewer who also had a basset and recorded this story off air and posted it on her YouTube page! I just happened to find it while searching for windsurf videos...

Oh, look at that - it's the sweet, sappy happy/sad basset face of my Howdy.

Makes me feel happy/sad and sappy - a face from 25 years ago.

I'd forgotten what his bark sounded like, but I will never forget how he changed my life. Or Dog Beach.

I adopted him from San Diego Humane Society - I found our later, it would have been his last day on Earth. He'd been adopted and returned several times and was labelled an incorrigible pet.

There we were, at closing time on a Saturday night at the shelter - our eyes met across the room. You know the rest... I took him home!

I remember that he was afraid of cars at first. And he couldn't run away and leave me often enough. He really tested me. And together, we really grew. We ran away together, on a board.

Howdy later became my co-chair of the Dog Beach Committee of the Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC.)

With our co chair Dave Martin, we managed the Dog Beach Improvement Project that completely renovated our favorite beach in the 1990's.

Howdy, the incorrigible pet, became a pillar of the community. And he became my family, my son and my bff. The patriarch of our surf dog family that came along after he showed us how.

Howdy's name and mine - and all the others that gave back - are etched in bronze at the Dog Beach entryway:

Together with the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, Ocean Beach Town Council, and so many generous donors and dog-lovers, we fixed up Dog Beach over a decade, and dedicated it July 26, 2003.

We will always love OB, our old home town.

It is a magical place - one of the last true So Cal beach towns in the US.

Dog Beach is an icon of the community - people and pets travel there from all over the world- to romp and run in waves and sand, and surf - with their dog kids and a sea of dog lovers. Dogs here are leash free and proud. It is the first leash free beach in America.