Bring On The Best Of The 2012 San Diego Surf Dog Competition!

Written by Ashley Burns / 06.19.12

We’ve reached the point that my most highly anticipated events of the year include the Super Bowl, World Series, Masters, any Channing Tatum movie, new 30 Rock episodes, and now, probably above all else, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog competition. And once again, over the weekend, 50 dogs were brought to San Diego for the ultimate pooch paddle party, and it was undoubtedly awesome.

Dogs were divided into three competitive categories, but I wanted to give a special shoutout to my main Twitter dawg dog Ricochet, the lovable retriever that surfs and helps train his fellow dogs to become service animals. Ricochet won the large breed title, which he adds to his title of reigning ASPCA Dog of the Year.

Additionally, this year’s competitors helped set three Guinness World Records, including Most Dogs on a Surfboard. Word is that Guinness has yet to confirm this record, which only further justifies the need to have me at this event every year, judging and verifying all records. Let’s make this happen, people.

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The Best Of The 2011 Surf Dog Competition

Written by Ashley Burns / 09.27.11

This past weekend was about legends. It was about honoring the old guard and celebrating one sport’s superstars. As you can obviously tell from the banner image, that sport is dog surfing. On Saturday, the 6th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon competition took place in Del Mar, California, and the event, hosted by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, raised more than $100,000 for orphaned pooches. And I like to imagine that they all live in a really cool surf academy called “Surf’s Pup!” because that would be awesome.

The star of the weekend was Buddy, the 14-year old Jack Russell terrier, who not only became the first dog inducted into the Surf Dog Hall of Fame, but also won his fifth Surf-A-Thon title. He’s like the Boston of dogs.

“That last heat was probably the best of Buddy’s life,” Bruce Hooker, Buddy’s owner, said during the ceremony.

(Via Ohmidog)

Adding: “But it still wasn’t as good as the heat he got from those poodles after the event, AMIRIGHT?” Who doesn’t love a good dog sex pun?

Other highlights included the first-ever dog surfing world record, which was set by Australian Kelpie Abbie’G when she rode a wave 65-freaking-yards, as well as a failed attempt for most dogs on one surfboard. Better luck next year, adorably terrified dogs!

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New Favorite Thing: The Surf Dog Hall Of Fame

Written by Ashley Burns / 09.08.11

Who says that September 11 has to be a downer? This Sunday, as we all settle into our couch grooves for another season of NFL action, an event of epic proportions will be taking place in Del Mar, California. Not only will dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes be taking to Dog Beach for our favorite annual event – Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon – but the Helen Woodward Animal Center will also be announcing the first inductee into the event’s brand new Hall of Fame. That lucky pooch is Buddy, a 14-year old Jack Russell terrier.

“This honor is validation that Buddy’s a good surfer,” [Buddy’s owner Bruce] Hooker told HuffPost Weird News. “He’s a special dog.”

Former surf journalist Nedra Abramson, who now organizes the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, agrees, hence the decision to honor him as the first inductee.

“Buddy does it for the right reasons,” she said. “He loves to surf — and he does turns! It’s like he’s a reincarnated surfer. He’s brought the sport great notoriety.” (Via Huffington Post)

There’s plenty of other praise in the article about why Buddy and Bruce do what they do and the insinuation that the dog is surfing for “the right reasons” is hilarious enough. But screw it, the event is incredible and it helps dogs find new homes, so they could tell people that Buddy’s doing it to score major dog poon and I’d still rub his tummy and call him a good boy. Now if I could just get my dog to learn how to do anything.

Check out Buddy in action after the jump.

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