• First dog inducted into the surfing hall of fame
• Passed away after a battle with cancer

“Sugar,” the famous dog known as the first canine inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 16 after a fight with cancer, according to her official Instagram account.

The post read: “Sugar lived to bring smiles to others, to volunteer, and to change the world of dog surfing forever! Thank you for loving Sugar. Goodbye, Sugar—I can’t believe I’m writing this… I will miss you so much.”

Sugar had previously lived as a stray dog, but she quickly gained fame thanks to her love of the waves and her natural surfing talent.

She became a five-time world champion in dog surfing.

Fans would watch the white, furry dog shine on her surfboard, wearing a life jacket and riding the waves toward the shore, sometimes accompanied by her owner, Ryan Rustan, and sometimes on her own.

In 2024, her paw prints were engraved alongside the handprints and footprints of the most famous human surfers in the Huntington Beach Surfing Hall of Fame, cementing her as an enduring symbol in the community.

At the tribute ceremony, Rustan said, “This is truly amazing. Dreams really do come true—even for a surfing dog like Sugar, and for people like me.”

Huntington Beach’s official Facebook page described Sugar as a “local legend,” highlighting her role in inspiring the world of surfing, advocating for stray dogs, and supporting veterans as a therapy dog, making her impact reach far beyond just the waves and the beach.