DEL MAR — Surfing dogs drew hundreds of spectators to Del Mar Dog Beach on Sept. 13 for the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 21st annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, but rough conditions forced judges to cancel the final round.
Nearly 100 dogs participated, with some wearing goggles and flotation vests as their owners helped guide their boards into the waves.
The rising tide and increasingly rough surf prompted judges to call off the Best-in-Surf final after determining conditions were unsafe for the dogs, according to The California Post.
The event, billed as the nation’s longest-running canine surf competition, raised funds for the Rancho Santa Fe-based nonprofit organization, which operates an adoption center, offers therapeutic programs and advocates for animal welfare.
“There’s a reason this is one of our most popular events of the year,” said Eva Lagudi-Devereux, the center’s special events director. “It’s an incredible day of fun, but there’s something much deeper happening on that beach. You see the bond between people and their pets everywhere you look, and you’re reminded just how much joy animals bring into our lives. And every wave these dogs ride helps us give more animals the second chances they deserve.”
The competition featured 10-minute heats, with dogs evaluated on the length of their rides, confidence and style by a panel of surfing professionals and aficionados.
Dogs competed in weight classes, with first-place finishers scheduled to advance to the Best-in-Surf final. A freestyle contest also let multiple dogs share a board, and owners rode alongside their pets.
Among the participants were Ryan Rustan and his dog Sweet, who shared a wave with Steve Drotter and his dog Rosie, the Post reported. Other dogs rode together in the tandem division, where a group was photographed wiping out as waves rolled through.
Organizers had tightened safety procedures ahead of this year’s competition, according to the Post, citing the animal center. Water access was limited to three-person teams: a handler, a center flagger and a retriever. Competing dogs also wore flotation vests.
The free event included live beach music, a canine costume contest, a children’s activity area, the “FUR-tastic Fair” pet vendor exhibition, a free agility course for dogs and a ceremony honoring a surfing canine legend.
