When Mike Wall, 13, and his American pit bull terrier Faith, 10, captured a good wave and moved onto the sand on their surf board, the crowd went wild.
“It was awesome,” Mike said with a smile, his colored bright-red hair wavy from the ocean, as he scratched Faith’s head while the 2 took a break Saturday.
Mike and Faith were completing for the 2nd time at the yearly World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. This year, countless individuals pertained to see the browsing pups using bright-colored life vest, sunglasses and safety glasses.
“You guys have a great crowd up here!” Joanne Owen said as she took a look at the clusters of individuals on the beach, craning their necks to get a view of the dog internet users. “I’ve never seen it this busy!”
Derby, front, and Surf Dog Teddy share a board throughout the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica. Video: Noah Berger Special to The Chronicle
Owen, who originated from San Diego for the occasion, utilized to have a browsing dog of her own — Kaylee, who died in 2020. Owen brought her 2 dalmatians, Bailey and Bentley, both 2 years of ages, to the competitors this year, however just to see their Southern California dog buddies.
“They aren’t quite ready for the water, but Bailey’s starting to take to it,” she said.
Many of the browsing dogs Saturday had an affinity for the water, their owners said. From there, the browsing came naturally.
Cherie, an 11-year-old French bulldog, enjoyed the water from the start, said her owners, Amy and Dan Nykolayko: Her very first time at the beach, she bolted into the water. Then, Dan and Cherie discovered to browse together, took lessons in Del Mar, and completed in their very first competitors a week prior to the rescue dog’s 2nd birthday. In 2019, she won the dog surfing champion.
Cherie, a French bulldog who likes the water, completes to win the medium dog classification.
Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle
“She picked it up faster than me!” Dan said.
Kim Pham obtained her Aussiedoodle, Little Man, with the intent of surfing with him, she said. But she didn’t anticipate just how much he’d enjoy the ocean. The very first time he swam, she said, he leapt in the ocean by himself towards a friend of Pham’s who had actually gotten too far from the group while paddleboarding.
Now, at 20 months old, he was all set for his very first dog surfing champion.
“He did really well,” Pham said as Little Man wallowed the sand and taken in all the attention. “He caught some waves on all fours, and he was pretty chill.”
Faith flights a wave to top place in the big dog department.
Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle
But the waves this year were more difficult than year’s past, Mike and his father, James Wall, explained — they were choppier and came rapidly.
