Charlie, a Yellow Lab with a passion for surfing, eagerly grabs his surfboard and dashes towards the ocean. Sometimes, if he feels like chatting with his beach pals, his humans have to stow the board away temporarily.
This Saturday, Charlie will join around 15 to 20 other canine surfers in a competition at the World Dog Surfing Championships in the suburbs of San Francisco.
The annual event attracts thousands of onlookers to Pacifica State Beach.
Dogs will compete against others of similar sizes for a chance to make it to the finals. There will also be heats where multiple dogs ride a single board together, as well as humans joining in the fun alongside their furry friends.
Judges will closely evaluate how long each dog stays on their board, how well they balance, and if they attempt any tricks, like turning around while riding a wave.
At 10 years old, Charlie is gearing up for a large single surfer heat.
He’ll also team up with two other dogs in what his owner, Maria Nibore, refers to as the “dream team.” “He loves the crowd,” she adds.
Amidst the waves, Maria’s husband, Jeff Niebore, helps Charlie prepare for the surf. When Jeff spots a good wave, he signals Charlie to “get ready” before pushing the board forward, allowing Charlie to ride as far as he can.
Sometimes, he even navigates the board back toward Maria, as if he’s steering his way home.
Charlie doesn’t need extra motivation to get rolling—once they’re in the water, he does his own thing. “Charlie will do what Charlie wants to do once we get into the water,” Jeff remarks.
The winner will walk away with medals and, of course, bragging rights.
Rosie, another member of Charlie’s “Dream Team,” is set to participate in four heats. Her owner, Steve Drotter, expressed his enthusiasm about Rosie’s surfing experience.
“It’s like we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” he shares, highlighting how much these moments strengthen their bond compared to a regular walk.
Steve feels that Rosie leaves the water with a sense of achievement, often snuggling with him even more than usual. “It’s like when we get home, she’s saying ‘Thank you,'” he reflects.
