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Surf's Up for Rover, Too

Pooches put down the bone and ride the waves

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 18, 2009 4:38 PM CDT

(Newser) – See spot run—not to catch a Frisbee, but to ride waves on a California beach. Surfing pooches are the latest trend in Southern California, where sunny skies and golden beaches gave birth to '60s surf culture, NPR reports. Dogs can take surfing classes and even enter surfing competitions. “It's a way for me to spend time in the water with my dog,” says the owner of a golden retriever.

“Now that my children are grown, I need an activity to use the surfboards that are left in my garage," she adds. More than 40 dogs were entered in one tournament held at Huntington Beach, where the competition was tough. “There's some serious competitors here today that we can't hold a candle to,” one bulldog owner admitted. “Now if it was skateboarding, that would be different.”

[Images (9)]

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R.J., left, and Bandit the Biker Dog catch a wave together during a practice session at the 2nd Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

'Zoey' balances on the nose of his owner's board during their heat in the tandem division at the 2nd Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Syd Lovelace and his dog Booda ride a wave during the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Scott Chandler hoists his daughter Tyler Chandler, 8, up onto his shoulders as his dog Zoey balances on the nose of the board during their heat in the tandem division at the 2nd Annual Loews Coronado... (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Bandit the Biker Dog gets a long ride during his heat in the solo division at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

'Cody' gets a long ride on a wave in front of the Imperial Beach Pier during his heat in the solo division at the 2nd Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Kia, a russell terrier, waits on her surfboard before her turn at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Kia, a russell terrier, rides a wave wearing a wig on a surfboard during the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Dozer of San Diego competes in the Surf Dog Competition of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge at Dog Beach in San Diego, Calif. (AP Photo/Purina, Gus Ruelas)

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It's baby steps. What we really try to promote is the dogs wanting to get on the board and go have some fun. - Rene Bruce, dog surfing instructor

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Surf's Up for Rover, Too