One of the highest honors in all of surfing is to have a statue erected. A monument to one’s contribution to sliding upon the sea. There are surprisingly few statues of surfers, only four that I can think of off the top of my head, in fact. Kelly Slater in Cocoa Beach, Yancy Spencer III in Pensacola, Duke Kahanamoku in Honolulu and Kook in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
A fifth will soon join the ranks.
“Ricochet the Surfing Dog.”
The beloved Golden Retriever sadly passed away last March after a battle with liver cancer though her life was full. Ricochet used her surfing skills to bring joy to many, including veterans suffering PTSD. She traveled north and south, east and west, mostly going straight in the whitewash but sometimes bashing the lip.
Ricochet not only surfed but was an author.
Artist Susan Bahary, renowned for creating “inspiring dog sculptures” is not about to let the pup’s memory fade. She is asking the public to help raise $145,000 in order to create the bust which will, hopefully, live forever in Del Mar.
Per the National Service Animals Memorial website:
All funds will go to NSAM strictly for the building of our Memorial and a full tax donation will be given. Our sculptor, Susan Bahary, is offering her artistic services at no cost, other than for the mold and casting costs. Therefore, you will be helping to build the Ricochet memorial at the same time your donations will help build the National Service Animals Memorial in the nation’s Capital!
It will look like this, hopefully.
Ricochet Memorial Sketch by Susan Bahary
Article by Chas Smith, Beach Grit