A beloved California dog surfing competition was thrown off course Sunday when rough conditions forced judges to abruptly scrap the final round over fears the waves had become too dangerous for the pups.
Nearly 100 dogs splashed into the surf at Del Mar Dog Beach for the 21st annual Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon, captivating a crowd of hundreds who gathered in the upscale seaside town to cheer on the four-legged wave riders.
Dogs of all shapes and sizes balanced on surfboards, some sporting goggles and life vests as their owners helped guide them into the surf. Others competed side by side, with dogs sharing boards or catching waves alongside their humans during the tandem portion of the event.
Among those photographed at Sunday’s event was Ryan Rustan, who was seen hugging his dog Sweet after the pair competed. Rustan and Sweet were also pictured sharing a wave with Steve Drotter and his dog Rosie during the competition.
Other pups were photographed riding toward shore on their boards, including a white dog wearing blue goggles and a pug in a red shirt riding a matching red surfboard.
The competition divided dogs into several groups, including big dog, small dog and tandem categories, with the top finishers normally advancing to a final Best-In-Surf heat. Dogs competing in the Surf-A-Thon are separated into weight classes ranging from 1 to 20 pounds, up to 86 pounds or more.
But the competition took a turn when the tide rose and the surf grew rougher. A group of dogs was pictured wiping out together during the tandem dog division as the waves rolled through.
Organizers had already tightened safety protocols for this year’s competition, limiting water access to three-person teams consisting of a handler, a center flagger and a retriever, according to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Competing dogs also wore flotation vests while on their boards.
Judges ultimately canceled the Best-In-Surf final after determining the conditions were no longer safe enough for the dogs to continue competing. Sunday’s Best-In-Surf final was ultimately canceled after the rising tide and rough waves made conditions too dangerous for the dogs to continue.
The annual fundraiser benefits animals waiting to be adopted through the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a private no-kill nonprofit founded in Rancho Santa Fe in 1972. The center serves more than 90,000 people and 10,000 animals each year through adoption, education and therapeutic programs.
Many of these canine surfers dedicate weeks to training before they ever set paw on a surfboard. The Helen Woodward Animal Center has previously partnered with SoCal Surf Dogs for lessons at Del Mar Dog Beach, where dogs learn to balance on boards on land before moving into shallow-water wave practice.
The event also traditionally includes a Freestyle Surf competition for multi-dog teams and human-canine pairings, along with a canine costume contest.
The Helen Woodward Animal Center continues its adoption and education programs throughout the year at its Rancho Santa Fe headquarters.