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Goats teach people to surf - 22nd September 2023

Surfing's becoming more popular. But in California, it's a goat – Chupacabrah – who's riding the waves. And it's showing new surfers how to do it.

Tourist Kimberly Van Donsel first saw Chupacabrah when she was searching online for surfing lessons.

Kimberly Van Donsel: "We saw it on the internet when we were searching because we wanted surf lessons and it just sounded so much fun. And we're used to working in agriculture. And I’ve honestly never seen goats surfing before. So yeah, and I raised goats for many years. So it's kind of a cool way to use them."

Dana McGregor teaches people how to surf. He's now known as the 'Goatfather', because all of this was his idea.

Dana McGregor: "You know, I think giving something or someone an experience that they've never had before is is pretty, is pretty powerful to me. And it's kind of what I live for, you know. It’s because I love surfing so much, I, I love giving people or animals the opportunity to do something they've never done before."

McGregor first bought a goat to help clear his garden. But he developed a special relationship with the animal, Goatee. McGregor loved surfing so he decided to take him along. He realised that Goatee was talented at surfing. When he let other goats try, he saw they could all do it!

Dana McGregor: "Yeah, they're pretty, pretty amazing out there. They can just kind of. You know they got those hooves that just, yeah, cling to the board. Yeah, they got great balance.

When McGregor started sharing pictures on social media, a new business began. The 'Surf Goat Day' packages include a lesson, the equipment and a ride with a goat.

Elizabeth French, a tourist, enjoyed her experience with the animal.

Elizabeth French: "I think it kind of does bring a little bit of like, if the goat can do it, I can do it too! And don't dump the goat. So, I don't know, it was just a lot of fun, and something I would totally want everybody to experience."

And new surfer Rebekah Abern learned from watching her goat. It was clear the animal knew what to do. The goat's position and balance on the board were excellent!

Rebekah Abern: "The goat surfed way better than I did. Yeah, she was all about it. She had the positioning and you could tell she’d done it before."