Santa Cruz, California, is known for its legendary surf breaks—and these days, for a four-legged social media sensation in the lineup. Rosie Drottar, or @RippinRosieDog to her 284,000 Instagram followers, is a two-year-old Labrador retriever. Her dad, Steve Drottar, a prosecuting attorney and a surfer for over 40 years, couldn’t be prouder: “I always wanted one of my kids or dogs to surf with me. Rosie is a dream come true.”
Meet viral SUP surf star Rippin’ Rosie
Rosie’s journey to stardom began when she wanted to join Drottar’s four (non-fur) kids paddling on a lake. She stepped onto his board and knocked him in a couple of times. But by her third attempt, she stood up and walked on the board. After a few weeks of paddling on the lake, Rosie took to the small waves easily.
It wasn’t long before Rosie’s surfing skills became undeniable.
“She hangs 10 more than anyone else in the county,” Drottar jokes. But he says she’s a true surfing partner, mimicking his body position, looking down the line like he does, shifting her weight and instinctively adjusting her position. “She’ll move back on the board to stop it from pearling,” he adds.
Obedience training, combined with obstacle courses, built a foundation of trust and communication—something that transfers to the board, says Drottar. In the beginning, he also rewarded Rosie for sits and down-stays on the board on land. The real training, however, came from four days a week out in the waves together.
“As soon as I start to get ready, she’s right there by the door…asking if it’s her turn to go,” he says. While Drottar admits he gets tired before Rosie, since he’s the one paddling the board out, he wouldn’t trade his time with her for anything. “It breaks my heart when I see her sad face in the window when I can’t take her out with me when the waves are too high or if I have to go straight to work after.”
Rosie’s surfing prowess has earned her first-place finishes in the human-dog tandem and multiple dog divisions at the World Dog Surfing Championship, the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach, and the Helen Woodward Center Surf-Dog-a-thon. The duo’s adventures have also captured global media attention, from People magazine to The Dodo to an Australian morning show. But for Drottar, the real reward is the bond they share.
While Rosie excels at SUP surfing with Drottar, she also competes solo, with Drottar giving her a push into waves. She even dabbles in waterskiing behind a boat.
Drottar’s advice for other dog owners interested in getting their pups on a board is simple: “Don’t ever push or force it and acclimatize them to the ocean at a young age.” He emphasizes the importance of building trust and making it a fun experience for both dog and owner.
For Drottar and Rosie, surfing is more than just a sport; it’s a shared passion that strengthens their bond. It also brings joy to countless others. “Rosie makes people smile all over the world,” says Drottar. “And I hope we continue surfing together daily as long as we can. Surfing is one of the greatest things ever—add your dog to it, and it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Watch Rippin’ Rosie in action at paddlingmag.com/0184.
This article was first published in Issue 73 of Paddling Magazine. Sur-fur girl. | Feature photo: Richard Brady
