The first time Vivian Vallely stood up on the wave, she was a bit nervous.

Well, who could blame her? She was all of two years old at the time.

But after that first ride, alls she could say is “again daddy, again!”

The now 4-year-old and her father, Eric, are regulars down at Blackies in Newport, where surf can be nice and mellow in right conditions – “Vivi-sized waves,” they call them. The story was just too cute to not put up - thanks to Tom Cozad of newportsurfshots.com for the photo.

“She just loves the water,” said Eric. “We go every opportunity we get. She asks me all the time, ‘can’t we go surfing tomorrow’?”

The miniature surfer doesn’t go out by herself – she’s not yet a strong enough swimmer. But when she does get good enough, she’s already put in a request for a pink surfboard.

They do tandem style, meaning Eric paddles, and when he stands up he lifts her and holds her by the shoulders to keep her stable.

They head out to surf about twice a week, less during winter because they don’t make good wetsuits for kids her age, Eric said.

And with mom out of town this weekend, I’m sure you’ll catch the duo catching some waves this Father’s Day.

“Hopefully the weather will be nice, and as long as there’s “Vivi” waves, we’ll go,” he said. “She wants to do what dad’s doing.”

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