Surf's Pup! Paddling Pooches Compete At The World Dog Surfing Championships

Thousands of dog owners and surfing enthusiasts flocked to Linda Mar Beach, near San Francisco, on 3 August for the 2024 World Dog Surfing Championships. The annual event, a beloved tradition in the Bay Area since 2016, saw talented pooches taking on the waves in a bid for surfing glory. The star of the show was Cacau, a chocolate Labrador from Brazil, who, along with her owner Ivan Moreira, claimed the title of Top Dog Overall Surfing Champion. Cacau impressed the judges and crowd alike, winning medals in the extra-large dog category, stand-up paddleboarding, and the human-and-dog tandem event. Dogs of all sizes competed in various events, including solo dog surfing, tandem dog and human surfing, tandem dog surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Competitors displayed a range of styles, with some standing on all fours and others sitting or lying down on their boards, but all shared an infectious enthusiasm that had their tails wagging. Judges evaluated the pups on their length of ride, technique, confidence, and the size or intensity of the waves they tackled. The event also had a charitable side, with each dog sponsored to compete on behalf of various causes, raising money for charities around the world.