Something huge happened over the weekend folks – the third annual World Dog Surfing Championships. This is a global sporting event where our four-legged best friends don their bright puffy life jackets and catch a ruff wave.
[jwplayer pOv0yCqQ]
More than four dozen amateur and highly-skilled surf doggos and their humans hit the beach in Pacifica, California on Saturday.
But this isn’t just the world’s most intense sporting event, this is also a fundraiser raising money for Rocket Dog Rescue, local surfing clubs, and environmental non-profits.
There are eight main awards up for grabs consisting of the Small Surf Dog Award, Pet Renu (Medium Surf Dog Award), Stunt Puppy (Large Dogs Award), DOOG (Tandem Dogs Award), Pedro Point Brewing (Tandem Human/Dog Award), Goughnuts Top Dog Award, Goughnuts Top Fetch Competition, and the JustFoodForDogs (Dog Beach Fashion Competition Award).
And then there are the three Special Achievement Awards for the high-performing canine.
This year, one of these awards – the Spirit of Surfing Award – went to Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie rescue dog. Abbie Girl also took home third place for for the Medium Surf Dog Award and proudly wore her medal on the beach, swarmed by media:
Despite the bloody adorable names, the competition is serious business. Per the official website, judging is based on a strict criteria:
- Length of the ride
- Technique (e.g. standing on all fours, sitting, laying down)
- Confidence
- Size or strength of wave
- Other style aspects
And as per the rules, all dogs must wear a life jacket or life-vest – customising is encouraged.
A Pet Wellness Fair was also up and running throughout the competition where humans could take their little or big ones for a checkup, massage, and fitness/medical test.
Yes, there are winners in this competition but honestly, they’re all champions in my eyes so let’s celebrate them:
(I may get emotional.)
Gidget the Pug and Prince Dudeman scored second place for their ride in the DOOG Tandem awards.
Make sure to swipe right on every single one of these:
This next boy’s name is Derby. He came first in the Large Dog awards and the DOOG Tandem Awards with Teddy. Derby also scored third place in the Human/Dog Tandem award and came second overall in the Goughnuts Top Dogs Award.
Derby could break my heart and I would let him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmEdsNNh2Y9/?tagged=dogsurfingchampionships
I’M SOBBING:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmEYSioHBr5/?tagged=dogsurfingchampionships
LOOK AT THIS GOOD BOY:
Perfection.
Also, please enjoy this quality trailer organisers made to promote this year’s competition:
