Dogs took to the waves at the annual World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California, as hundreds of spectators cheered from the Northern California beach. The event was reported by infohub.kz.
From small spaniels to large labs, the canines were judged on factors including how long they could stay on their board, the size of the wave, and their confidence. Now in its 10th year, the contest in Pacifica, about 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of San Francisco, included a pet adoption event and fundraising for local animal charities.
The dogs, sporting colorful life vests, stood ready on their surfboards, assisted by human participants who spotted the best wave and helped carry the board to the beach. Spectators erupted in applause and cheers with each successful ride.
Sophia Sadlowski, a resident of Huntington Beach, first put her Miniature Pinscher, Rusty, on a surfboard to capture fun photos when he was just a puppy. However, the dog didn't want to get off. According to Sadlowski, when she walked to the beach and put him on a wave, he surfed it himself.
Small-, medium-, and large-sized dogs competed in heats, with the highest scorers in each heat facing off for the top prize. The day also included tandem contests, where multiple dogs, as well as dogs and humans, shared the surfboard.
Rusty's life jacket was green with animal print and a shark fin sticking up from his back, and his goggles gave him the look of a fierce competitor. Sadlowski said Rusty competed in his first surf contest at four months old. "He was four months old, and he took third place. So we've been surfing since," Sadlowski said. "We got hooked."