Thousands of spectators crowded onto Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica on Saturday to witness canines catching waves at the annual World Dog Surfing Championships.
Cacau, a chocolate Labrador from Brazil, took home the \"top surf dog\" gold medal for herself and her owner, Ivan Moreira, as determined by length of ride, technique, confidence and size or strength of the wave.
Twenty dogs of various breeds and sizes from as far away as Japan made a big splash and tried to put on their best surfing performances at one of the Bay Area's most popular surfing destinations.
A chocolate Labrador Retriever from Brazil, named Cacau, rode on a paddle board with her owner Ivan Moreira. Although the surf conditions were getting rough as the contest progressed, the pair made swift turns on the water to the amazement of the crowd.
\"There's about 6,000 or 7,000 people here to watch the dogs surf,\" said Christine Miller, a volunteer at the event. Crowds began lining up on the beach an hour before the first heat of small dogs kicked off the competition.
Heats were divided by size and surfing style. Some dogs surfed solo or with another furry friend on the same board. Others rode the waves along with their owners.
Every time a dog managed to catch a wave, the spectators erupted in cheers.
Competitors tried to snag a first-, second- or third-place award in each heat. First- and second-place dogs from each solo heat then competed against each other to win the coveted \"top surf dog\" award.
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