After a Four-Year Hiatus, Helen Woodward’s In-PAWson Surf Dog Classes are Back…
Rancho Santa Fe (July 20, 2023) – The dog days of summer are here, and with them comes everyone’s favorite PAWter sport – Dog Surfing! Even better, Helen Woodward Animal Center is excited to announce that Surf Dog Classes are finally BACK! Not since 2019 have the in-person surf-competition prep courses (taught by the beloved SoCal Surf Dogs) been allowed on Del Mar Dog Beach. Now the classes are back to get beach-loving pooches shredding PAWty waves in preparation for the Center’s annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon on September 10th. SurFUR students can dog paddle their way to the first lesson at 10:30 am on July 23rd at the Del Mar Dog Beach.
While it sounds crazy, dog surfing has existed as far back as the 1920s with dogs appearing in surfing films as early as the 1930s. However, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon pioneered competitive dog surfing 17 years ago. The idea was simple, what if the novelty of dogs surfing could raise funds to save lives. The first few Surf-A-Thons garnered small but enthusiastic crowds. However, everything changed in 2010 when ESPN flew out to cover the 4th annual contest. The coverage was estimated to have reached 400 million across the world, launching Dog surfing into a global phenomenon.
Of course, most people don’t teach their dogs how to surf on their own. While the Center has offered Dog Surfing lessons for competitors in the past, in 2013, it partnered with SoCal Surf Dogs for the first time. SoCal Surf Dogs is a local Dog Surfing club founded in 2009, who teach and promote safe Dog Surfing practices throughout Southern California. This year’s Dog Surfing season marks the 10-year anniversary of the Center’s partnership with the Club.
New surFURs start on the beach with mandatory safety training. All groMutts are equipped with Canine Flotation Devices and soft surf boards without leashes for maximum protection. Then, the lessons move onto teaching the pups how to stand on their boards, along with developing positive associations with them. Then, the surfing pooches are taken to shallow water, where they’ll learn how to balance and float on their boards. Finally, the surFurs get a chance to shred some tasty waves in shallow waters with the guidance of Dog Surfing professionals.
“These lessons are a great way to bond with your dog, raise funds for orphan pets and find out if you want to compete with your pup in the September competition,” Jessica Gercke, PR Director of Helen Woodward Animal Center said. “By the end of his first lesson, my dog Wilson could ride a wave on his own and I was definitely the proudest mom on the beach.”
Dog Surfing lessons are $50 per session, per SurFUR. (All proceeds support the pets and programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center.)
The first of three sessions will kick-off at 10:30 am on July 23rd at Del Mar Dog Beach. All dogs must be registered to attend and spaces fill up quickly.
To register your pooch, visit: https://animalcenter.org/surf-dog-surf-a-thon/
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