Crouched on her board, Rippin Rosie caught another line of surf and glided toward hundreds of cheering spectators. The 5-year-old Labrador retriever would leave Linda Mar Beach with three first-place finishes but heavy waves had already forced a consequential change to the championship.
About 20 dogs and their handlers competed August 1 in the 10th annual World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California. The sometimes-choppy conditions produced spills and early exits from boards, while the heavier waves led organizers to replace the usual top dog category with a spirit of surfing award.
Rosie, who is from Soquel in Santa Cruz County, won the large/extra-large dog division. She and Steve Drottar also placed first in stand-up paddleboarding. Rep. Sam Liccardo, a former San Jose mayor, announced Rosie as the overall spirit of surfing winner, ahead of Iza, a French bulldog from Pleasanton, and Bradley “Shortboard” Cooper, a 1-year-old mixed-breed rescue dog from Long Beach.
The championship divided competitors by size and also recognized tandem human-and-dog teams and canine fashion-show entrants. Under the competition format described in an account of the Pacifica championship, judges considered how long a dog remained aboard, wave size and the dog’s confidence. Human participants helped by selecting waves and directing boards toward shore.
Those criteria place a premium on more than balance. A successful run depends on the handler’s reading of the water, the dog’s ability to remain settled on a moving platform and the pair’s coordination. The day’s life vests were essential working equipment, not decoration, particularly when rougher surf increased the likelihood of a dog leaving the board.
Enthusiasm still requires limits
Charlie, an 11-year-old yellow Labrador from the San Diego area, began surfing after Jeff Nieboer and his wife placed him on a board for a photograph during a beach camping trip. Following a lesson, Charlie started grabbing the board and pulling it toward the water.
Age has changed how Nieboer manages those outings. He now caps Charlie’s wave sessions at half an hour because the Labrador has slowed but remains eager. He still really likes it. I just know his limitations. He won’t stop, and I kind of have to put a cap on it, Nieboer said.
That distinction matters in any demanding water activity: willingness does not guarantee that a dog will regulate its own exertion. Veterinary water-safety guidance advises close supervision and rest because swimming is tiring and an exhausted dog faces greater risk in the water. A properly fitted flotation device adds protection, but it does not replace an attentive handler.
Rocket, a 4-year-old French bulldog owned by Don Nykolayko of Costa Mesa, required a different introduction. He was initially hesitant and became more receptive when his older sister, Cherie, joined him on the board. His progression underscores the value of letting an individual dog become comfortable rather than assuming that participation will come automatically.
The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine’s beach guidance recommends entering the water with an inexperienced dog, maintaining close supervision and never forcing a dog into water where the animal cannot stand without human support or a life jacket. Cold water, rough surf and strong currents further narrow the margin for error.
Saltwater creates another concern. Dogs should have fresh drinking water available because ingesting seawater can cause vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Cornell’s canine summer-safety guidance also identifies disorientation, muscle tremors and seizures as possible signs of dangerous excess salt exposure. Symptoms, breathing difficulty, unusual lethargy or abnormal behavior after a water outing warrant veterinary attention.
The contrast at Pacifica was instructive. Charlie still pulled toward the waves strongly enough that his handler imposed a time limit. Alana, an 8-year-old spaniel-doodle mix brought from Richmond by Eunice Alonzo and Jonathan Torres, was afraid of the waves and did not surf. Both responses call for the same professional standard from an owner: observe the dog in front of you and respect the answer. What’s your dog’s job, official or self-appointed? Tell us in the comments.
By Tom Whitaker — Outdoor magazine editor who has reported on search-and-rescue, herding, field dogs, and working-dog handlers.
