HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC): The annual dog surfing competition, part of the “Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge,” is currently taking place in Huntington Beach, California. This event, which has been running for 26 years, allows canines of all shapes and sizes to ride the waves. In addition to dog surfing, other competitions such as agility courses, diving dog contests, weave-racing, and freestyle flying disc competitions are also being held over the weekend.
According to Michael Zerman, the Purina Communications Manager, the event is an exciting way to kick off the Western Regional of the National Dog Challenge. He emphasizes the passion and enthusiasm of the owners and trainers who come with their dogs, creating a family-friendly atmosphere. The owners cheer for all participants, not just their own, highlighting the supportive community surrounding the competition.
One notable participant is Cherie, known as the “surfing queen,” and her owner Dan. They share their success story, mentioning that Cherie’s love for water was discovered after she was rescued in 2011. They then took her to the dog beach in Long Beach and later enrolled her in dog surfing lessons in Del Mar. Cherie has been competing since 2013 and even achieved top honors for small dogs in last year’s competition. However, this year’s event will mark Cherie’s retirement from competitive surfing, as she will hang up her board at the end of the year.
The dog surfing competition began on Friday at 9 a.m. and will continue throughout the weekend at Huntington Beach State Park. The event is free and open to the public, and it will also be televised in mid-August.
Source: abc7.com