On Saturday July 21^st Dogs and their Owners hit the beach to “Hang 20” for charity at St Augustine Beach, one of the best dog-friendly beaches along the East Coast offering perfect beginner level waves.  Gathering directly outside the new Guy Harvey Resort, beginners, first-timers and seasoned water dogs with their humans, joined Guy Harvey Resorts, Surf Station, Tito’s Vodka, K9s for Warriors, Faux Paws Pet boutique, Petco, and Del Mar Veterinary to raise money and awareness for K9s for Warriors, a local 501c-3 organization.

K9s for Warriors provides service canines to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury, and other traumas as a result of military service post-9/11.  They are the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for disabled American veterans and credited with matching 323 military veterans with their service dogs. The dogs are rescued directly from shelters, other rescue organizations, and select breeders.  The dogs perform a multitude of tasks for their owners, including helping them to cope with panic attacks, waking them from night terrors, enhancing their physical mobility, and easing their anxiety in social situations.

Four-legged and two-legged contestants alike participated and took the term “goofy foot” sur-fur to another level while entertaining all with their personalities and talents. All shapes and sizes participated from a Miniature Australian Shepherd named Roxy to a 100-pound American Bulldog named Rocky.   Dogs competed for prizes and awards provided by Faux Paws pet boutique, Starfish Vision maker of the Guy Harvey dog collar, Jared Jeffs Photography and Petco.  There was even one dog loving cat on a leash named Boogie.

The Event kicked off with Captain Scott Cushine, the Adventure Coordinator at the Guy Harvey Resort St Augustine Beach and his helpful young mermaid Aria, playing a conch shell, the bagpipe of the sea, to signal the start of the event.  A low, haunting blast rolled above the waves then faded into the distance as the competitors lined up and waited to hear their names called.

Then, the fun began as sure-footed and not so sure-footed dogs with their owners all competed to show off their style and skills for celebrity judges, who decided was worthy of moving on to the next heat. There was Chris Johnson from American Ninja Warriors, beloved St Augustine Author Gary Williams with his celebrity 4-legged sidekick Guen, and Faux Paws owners Mark and Lynn Small.

Many locals cheered on local favorite as Jake Scott, the yellow lab who surfed backwards and held his own leash, which is now affectionally called “The Leash Grab” within the St Augustine Surf Community.  But all dogs were not local like first time sur-fur Jinks, who traveled from Gainesville to take park of the event and Lily from Stuart, who brought her own hot pink Hawaiian printed life vest and surfboard complete with custom paw print decals.  She could hang 20 with the best of them!

Judges watched for best solo surfing, best tandem, best style, rookie of the year, crowd favorite, best wipe out, best trick, longest rides and more.  A fun time was enjoyed by all and Guy Harvey Resorts is already preparing for next year’s event in July 2019. Watch for detail and don’t miss a fun day at the beach with your 4 -legged friends when visiting St Augustine Beach.

Surfing Recap: