During a recent competition, some of California’s most talented surfers showed off, and they all just happened to have four legs. Dogs of all sizes went surfing during the 10th annual World Dog Surfing Championships.
The competition took place Saturday, Aug. 1, at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. Thousands of spectators gathered along the shoreline to watch the canine athletes catch waves.
Dogs competed individually in categories based on their size. The event also included stand-up paddleboarding and tandem contests featuring dogs riding with people or other dogs.
Increasingly rough conditions forced organizers to cancel the final surf-off between the size-category winners. However, awards were still presented in each division, along with an overall Spirit of Dog Surfing honor.
Dogs Were Judged on Confidence, Technique and Style
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Video shared by the San Francisco Chronicle shows the dogs balancing on their boards as spectators cheer from the beach. Each competitor had 10 minutes to catch as many waves as possible. According to SFGATE, judges considered the length and quality of each ride, along with the dog’s confidence, technique and style.
People helped the dogs enter the water and select waves that could carry their boards toward shore. The competitors wore life jackets, and some added goggles or other colorful accessories. The event also included a pet wellness fair, adoptable animals and fundraising for local charities.
Rippin’ Rosie Earned the Top Overall Honor
Rippin’ Rosie, a 5-year-old Labrador retriever, finished first in the large and extra-large division. She also won the human-dog tandem and stand-up paddleboard categories with her owner, Steve Drottar.
Organizers named Rosie the winner of the Spirit of Dog Surfing award. Iza finished second, followed by first-time competitor Bradley “Shortboard” Cooper. The official results show that Bradley won the small-dog division, while Iza placed first among the medium dogs.
Iza and miniature pinscher Rusty also won the dog-dog tandem contest. They defeated the longtime trio known as the Dream Team, made up of Rosie, Charlie and Carson.
San Francisco ABC station KGO-TV reported that conditions became “too ruff” to hold the final surf-off safely. The awards ceremony continued on shore after the competition ended.