By SDCN Staff
Rancho Santa Fe, CA–The waves will be going to the dogs this weekend as the Helen Woodward Animal Center hosts its 20th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon.
The free event, presented by Blue Buffalo, runs Sunday, Sept. 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dog Beach Del Mar.
Nearly 50 dogs are expected to take part in the nation’s longest-running surf-dog competition, riding waves in 10-minute heats before a panel of surf pros and enthusiasts. Judges will score the four-legged athletes on ride length, technique, enthusiasm, and confidence, with winners in each weight class advancing to the finals for the title of “Best in Surf.”
First launched two decades ago, the Surf-A-Thon has turned “dogs on surfboards” into a fundraiser that channels 100 percent of proceeds toward orphan pets and animal welfare programs. In addition to surfing, the event will feature a freestyle surf contest that rewards creativity, a canine costume contest, and prizes provided by Helen Woodward Animal Center and Blue Buffalo.
“There’s a reason this is one of our most popular events of the year,” said Center Special Events Manager Eva Lagudi-Devereux. “The love these pet parents have for their dogs, and the joy these dogs experience doing something they adore with their owners, reminds us all that pets do really enhance our lives.”
The family-friendly festival will also include a kids’ activity area, pet exhibitor booths, a free dog agility course sponsored by San Diego Pet Training, and even a “pup meet-up” hosted by dating app Hily, offering single pet owners a chance to connect.
Admission is free. Parking is available at Border Avenue and Via De La Valle and at Highway 101 and Camino Del Mar for a $25 donation.
For those who can’t attend in person, the “Best in Surf” final heat will be livestreamed at 12:40 p.m. on the event’s Facebook page at facebook.com/surfdogsurfathon.
More information and registration details are available at animalcenter.org/surf-dog-surf-a-thon or by calling (858) 756-4117 ext. 362.
