{"id":974510,"date":"2026-08-01T23:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/974510\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T23:45:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:45:22","slug":"world-dog-surfing-championships-hit-pacifica-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/974510\/","title":{"rendered":"World Dog Surfing Championships hit Pacifica, California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Four-legged wave riders took over a Northern California beach Saturday as dozens of canine competitors<\/a> battled for bragging rights at the annual World Dog Surfing Championships.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of spectators packed Pacifica\u2019s shoreline to watch dogs of every breed and size hang 10<\/a> atop brightly colored surfboards, with the soaked pups sporting tiny life vests as they carved through the waves \u2014 often better than their human counterparts.<\/p>\n

Surfer doggies dominated this California beach in pursuit of claiming the title of top dog on the waves. Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

The wet dogs sported life vests on colorful surfboards and rode the waves better than some humans. Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

Dogs from labs, spaniels, bulldogs, and many others competed. Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

Judges looked at how long they could stay on their board, the size of the wave they rode, and even their confidence. <\/p>\n

Dogs from labs, spaniels, bulldogs, and many others competed.<\/p>\n

Their handlers typically help them find a spot to catch a wave, and the pups stay on their board until volunteers catch them, potentially wiping out near the shoreline.<\/p>\n

The event also includes a pet adoption event and fundraising for animal charities. Organizers describe the event as the \u201cpremier dog surfing event in the World.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The event also includes a pet adoption event and fundraising for animal charities. Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

One dog surfer\u2019s human said her dog started surfing at just four months old. She said she put her young dog on a surfboard to take photos, and he didn\u2019t want to get off. Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

One dog surfer\u2019s human said her dog started surfing at just four months old. She said she put her young dog on a surfboard to take photos, and he didn\u2019t want to get off.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then \u2026 he didn\u2019t want to get off,\u201d Sophia Sadlowski, of Huntington Beach, California<\/a>, told the Associated Press<\/a>. \u201cI walk over to the beach, and I put him on a wave, and he surfed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dog, a Miniature Pinscher named Rusty, wore a green life jacket with animal print and a menacing shark fin poking out of his back. He was seen riding a light-teal and gray surfboard until a wave turned the board up and knocked him off. A nearby human plucked him out of the water.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI walk over to the beach, and I put him on a wave, and he surfed it.\u201d Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

Organizers describe the event as the \u201cpremier dog surfing event in the World.\u201d Paul Kuroda for CA Post<\/p>\n

But Sadlowski said he\u2019s faced much more significant challenges than waves: he\u2019s had cancer.<\/p>\n

Both Sadlowski and her dog have conquered the disease, she said.<\/p>\n

Other portions of the contest included small, medium, and large-sized doggies competing in heats until the highest-scoring dogs face off for the top prize. It also included a tandem competition where humans and dogs shared space on surfboards.<\/p>\n

Pacifica is a city located around 16 miles south of San Francisco in San Mateo County.<\/p>\n

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