A unique surfing competition attracted thousands of spectators to a beach near San Francisco, where dogs of varying sizes showcased their wave-riding skills.
Labs, terriers, spaniels, and more were among the dozens of canine participants hitting the surf at Pacifica State Beach, located approximately 14 miles south of San Francisco, for the annual World Dog Surfing Championships.
The dogs competed against others of similar size for a spot in the finals, with additional heats featuring tandem surfing (multiple dogs) or dogs riding alongside their human companions. All dogs wore life vests, and many sported goggles.
Once in the water, owners assisted their pets in boarding colorful surfboards, as the crowd cheered from the shoreline.
Judges evaluated the dogs based on the duration they remained on their boards, their balance, and their ability to execute tricks, such as turning mid-ride.
Iza, a five-year-old French bulldog, secured her first win in the single surfer heat for medium-sized dogs, according to her owner, David Fasoli.
Fasoli recounted discovering “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from Costco and taught Iza to balance in their swimming pool. Subsequently, they ventured into the sea, captivating onlookers with their wave-riding progress.
Now, their competitions are a testament to defying expectations.
“I have a disability – I only have one hand – so a non-sporting human combined with a non-sporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Mr. Fasoli said after the competition.
Ten-year-old yellow lab Charlie is so enthusiastic about surfing that he often tries to grab his surfboard and head straight for the water. His owners even have to hide the board sometimes to maintain peace and quiet.
Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, competed in the extra-large single surfer heat. He also participated in a tandem heat with two other dogs, forming what their humans called “The Dream Team.”
Owner Maria Nieboer stated, “He loves the crowd.”
Charlie and Ms. Nieboer’s husband, Jeff, work together to prepare for waves. When Mr. Nieboer identifies a good wave, he turns the board and signals to Charlie to “get ready.”
He pushes the board, and Charlie assumes a scrunched position, riding the wave for as long as possible. Charlie can even steer by leaning and surfs toward Ms. Nieboer, who waits for him on the beach.
Mr. Nieboer said that Charlie does not require treats for motivation, explaining, “Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water.”
Charlie’s “Dream Team” teammate, Rosie, another yellow lab, participated in four heats. Rosie’s owner, Steve Drottar, said the four-year-old is always “stoked” after their surfing sessions, which they typically do four to five times a week near their home in Santa Cruz.
“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Mr. Drottar said. “The fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a different bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”
He observes a sense of accomplishment in Rosie afterward, noting her increased happiness, more vigorous tail wags, and extra snuggling tendencies.
“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying ‘Thank-you’.”
