The ultimate doggie paddle: A barking mad surfing competition for dogs

If you’re in California this weekend – specifically, if you’re in Huntington Beach, southeast of Los Angeles – don’t miss the 10th annual Surf City Surf Dog competition.

The goodest boys (and girls) will hang ten – or, to be precise, eight – at this barking mad doggie surfing competition, which in 2018 is celebrating a decade of dog surfing and fundraising for pet-related charities.

The main event takes place on Saturday September 29 at Huntington Dog Beach (which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary). The furry contestants will compete in a variety of heats, with professional surf judges awarding trophies to the top dogs in each category, based on skills, the length of their ride, and difficulty of wave and manoeuvres. But we all know that every dog is a winner, so happily every surfing pooch will receive a commemorative participation medal.

Over the last 10 years more than 500 dogs have participated in this unique sport, hailing from the UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil and all corners of the United States. The Surf City Surf Dog Championship celebrates these lovable furry athletes in, appropriately, the state of California where surfing recently became the official sport!

Check out this totally pawsome video from the 2016 event: