The 10th annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California, drew thousands of fans on Saturday, August 1. Dozens of dogs in custom life jackets hit the waves, competing in weight divisions, tandem heats, and human-and-dog team runs.
Judging and Winners
Judges scored the canine surfers on ride length, wave size, confidence, posture, balance, stability, and extra tricks. A Miniature Pinscher named Bradley Cooper won the small dog category, Iza took the medium division, and social-media star Rippin' Rosie claimed the large/extra-large title, also impressing on stand-up paddleboard runs.
Event Cut Short
Despite local rip current advisories, the event proceeded safely at first. However, choppy water built in the afternoon, prompting organisers to cut the event short and cancel the final surf-off showdown. As a result, the Overall Spirit of Dog Surfing Championship was awarded jointly to Rosie, Iza, and Bradley Cooper.
Beyond the Waves
The championships also featured a Surf Dog Village with adoption drives and fundraising, with part of the proceeds going to local animal welfare and environmental charities, according to the Mercury News.
First-Timers Hooked
The sport has turned first-timers into lifelong enthusiasts. Sophia Sadlowski from Huntington Beach, California, first put her Miniature Pinscher Rusty on a surfboard for cute pictures when he was a puppy. She told AP News: "And then ... he didn’t want to get off. I walk over to the beach, and I put him on a wave, and he surfed it." Sadlowski added: "He was four months old, and he took third place. So we’ve been surfing since. We got hooked."
