Iza Surf Dog stays still as it surfs in the medium-size dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Hundreds of spectators gathered at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica on Saturday morning to watch the annual World Dog Surfing Championships with some special guests … whales watching from a distance.
Twenty dogs competed in six categories. Some wore their wetsuits. Some were more flamboyant. Some dogs flew in from other countries, such as Cacau from Brazil, and Coda from Japan. Also, Paco, who was born in Spain and now lives in San Mateo, took the surfboard to compete in the large-dog heat.
The beach was so crowded that some spectators with cell phones blocked the view, and some professional photographers were forced to get wet to get their best shots.
One of the 20 registered surfing dogs competes during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Sugar, left, and Iza Surf Dog compete in the medium-sized dogs during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Paco, who was born in Spain, and now lives in San Mateo, surfs in the large-dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) James Wall, of San Leandro, gets some love from his dog, Faith, as they get ready to compete in the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Coda, of Japan, surfs in the medium dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Rusty surfs in the small-size dog heat as her owner, Sophia Silowski, looks on during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Cacau, of Brazil, surfs in the extra-large dog heat as his owner, Ivan Moreirra looks on during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. Cacau won in its own category.(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Delilah the Spaniel surfs in the small-size dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Cacau, of Brazil, exits the waters along with his owner, Ivan Moreira, after a spectacular performance in the extra-large dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. Cacau won in its own category.(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Satomi Asano, of Japan, carries her dog, Coda, after surfing in the medium-dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Esperanza Hodgson, of San Francisco, holds her dog, Boy, as spectators cheer during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. Cacau won in its own category.(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Hundreds of spectators watch the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Lil Man surfs in the medium dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Rusty jumps off the surfboard after crashing with a wave in the small-size dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Hundreds of spectators get wet as they try to get a closer look at the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Iza Surf Dog jumps off the surfboard after crashing with a wave in the medium-size dog heat during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) One of the 20 registered surfing dogs competes during the annual World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
