Surf Dog Competition in IB

If you’ve never seen a dog on a surfboard, this weekend is your chance! San Diego is a very dog friendly city, and we’ve definitely taken our love for man’s best friend to the next level with the most adorable surf event of the year… The Imperial Beach Surf Dog Competition. On July 29th, fearless surFUR dogs will jump on their boards and hang 20. The Imperial Beach event is the original surf dog competition. Check out the action adjacent to the Imperial Beach Pier, where more than 60 dogs are expected to participate in this family friendly event, which raises funds for the San Diego Humane Society.

Some dogs love the water and they have a natural ability to shred on a surfboard. Throw on a doggie life jacket and these pups are better than most humans at catching a wave. (Don’t worry, the pups are never in danger. Their owners are close by and the waves aren’t too big.)

How does the competition work? SurFUR competitors and their owners or handlers will have ten minutes per heat to catch his or her top five waves. Professional surf judges will be looking for dogs with a high confidence level, length of ride, and overall ability to “grip it and rip it.”

There are two different heats in the competition: single dog heats and tandem heats. Single dog heats include: Open Heats (weight-based heats with five dogs maximum per heat) and Shredder Heats (advanced surFUR heats with five dogs maximum per heat).

The Surf Dog Competition is more than just pups on the water. There will also be pet adoptions, canine play zones, vendor booths, a beer garden, and food trucks! Partial proceeds benefit charities including the San Diego Humane Society. Whether you’re looking for a furry friend of your own or if you just want to come down and enjoy the festivities, there will be lots to do and see at the IB Surf Dog Competition.

Here’s a schedule of what’s going on throughout the day:

8am – Check-In Opens
8am – 1om – SurFUR Expo
8:30am – 2:15pm – Surf Dog Competition
9am – 1:30pm – Pet Adoption
2:45pm – Awards Ceremony

We can’t imagine anything cuter than a dog on a surfboard, so we hope to see you down in IB to support a good cause while you cheer on your four legged friends! Surf’s up!

Getting There

From I-5 South:

Exit on Palm Avenue
Turn right and continue down Palm Avenue
Turn left at Seacoast Drive

Address: 10 Evergreen Ave. Imperial Beach, CA 91932