The Popcorn Stand: Headbanging and dog surfing

I try to stay as hip as I can with this version of the Popcorn Stand as I look at never-too-old headbangers and dog surfers.

You have to admit this headline from Huffington Post is awesome: “Aging Headbangers Escape Nursing Home To Hit Heavy Metal Festival”

Managers of a German nursing home began to panic when they couldn’t find a pair of elderly friends anywhere on the grounds. Police later discovered the men — at a heavy metal festival.

The unidentified pals left the home in the rural Dithmarschen district and likely hitchhiked and took public transit to travel 25 miles to the Wacken Open Air festival near Hamburg. The headbangers’ event is touted as the biggest metal festival in the world.

The two men eventually were found befor dawn Saturday and were disappointed to miss the last day of the festival which began Thursday.

The two men, nabbed before dawn Saturday, were disappointed to miss the last day of the festival, which began Thursday.

Festival organizers of course gave their props to the two elderly men stating you’re never too old to rock.

I’m not much for Heavy Metal, although Jimmy Kimmel’s and Mettalica’s version of “Sandman” on children’s music toys was awesome.

The festival in Germany such headliners as Wacken. Danzig, Judas Priest, Cannibal Corpse, Hatebreed, In Flames, Arch Enemy and Eskimo Callboy.

To show you how much the Old Fuddy Duddy is out of it I’ve never heard of any of those “headliners” except for Juday Priest and I’m definitely not exactly what you could call a Judas Priest fan.

Anyway I don’t think I could get Tuf Tuf (you know Sir Tuffington something or other) the Jack Russell or Pete the Shih Tzu to hang out at a Heavy Metal festival.

Now getting Tuf Tuf on a surf board, I think I could do that. But Pete, I don’t think so.

The World Dog Surfing Championships were held in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday. This is an event that could and should be covered by ESPN.

Because these dogs are every bit of the athletes as those who take part in the bean bag throwing or hot dog eating or whatever “sport” ESPN decides to cover.

Take Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie rescue. She won a special Spirit of Surfing Award for her performance and her dedication to the sport. Yes, these dogs are dedicated athletes.

Another example of these dedicated athletes is Gidget, a pug, who can do turns on her board.

And of course these dogs love surfing and I’m pretty sure they loved the conditions they surfed in. I can’t resist these puns, but it didn’t look like the waves were too “ruf.”

The seas definitely weren’t “howling,” making for perfect dog surfing conditions.

These dogs definitely showed off their talents in various categories. They surfed alone, the dogs surfed together in pairs and they surfed with their owners.

All I can say is, “Dogabunga Dude!”

— Charles Whisnand