Along the Pacifica coastline this past weekend, beachgoers were treated to the usual array of breathtaking views, bouts of cetacean gymnastics—and, also, canines hanging 10 (or 20).
Sure, most dogs fancy catching tennis balls, but ruffly 50 special pups this past Saturday chose to, instead, snag swells off the shores of Pacifica State Beach, competing in the 2019 World Dog Surfing Championships.
YESTERDAY. WAS. PAWESOME! I can’t believe that I get to tell you that I WON!!! I took a gold medal in Medium Dogs and a gold medal in Best In Surf at the @WorldDogSurfing Championships! 🥇🏄♀️🌊🤙🏻 pic.twitter.com/453eSyADfo
— Cherie the Surf Dog (@SurfDogCherie) August 4, 2019
Sources, like KQED, say nearly 4,000 dog lovers and curious onlookers came out to see these good boys and girls tackle the lively seas the state beach is quasi-famous for.
And although each of the four-legged athletes did their dog gon’ best, one stubby-tailed french bulldog, Cherie from Newport Beach, ultimately took home the title of “World's Best Surfing Dog.”
Cherie, wearing a t-shirt that read "Cherie the Surf Dog” and donning a required life-vest, per competition rules, was crowned to be the winner by a set of human judges. While the judging is subjective at best, criteria like time, posture, steadiness, and surfboard footing (paw-ing?) go into consideration when finalizing their decisions.
"Cherie loves doing this," said Cherie's owner, Dan Nykolayko told the Chronicle. "You can tell. If a dog doesn't want to do something, it isn't going to do it. I'm more nervous than Cherie is."
Better yet, a portion of yesterday’s ticket sales and on-site purchase goes toward non-profits that better the lives of fellow doggos, the environment, and those supporting local surfing programs.
Weren’t among the thousands of bipeds out in attendance? Here are some of our favorite IGs from Saturday's dog-friendly festivities.
Photo: Courtesy of pxhere
