- I took my son Luke to photograph surfing dogs at the annual dog surfing competition in San Diego.
- The event is free and gathers people from all places ready to see dogs smile in the water.
This past weekend, I learned that the more seriously you take some things, the funnier they get.
On a golden Sunday morning in September, my son Luke and I find ourselves knee-deep in Pacific waves and whimsy in the heart of Del Mar's Dog Beach. A gathering of thousands of souls alight for one final carefree summer moment: dogs on surfboards.
There, the crowd is breathless with laughter under a giant black soundstage. Because how can you not giggle with a smiling dog as it surfs?
The event is free and great for everyone
We photograph dogs of every size, a parade into the water in imaginative surf threads — even one in a sequin-pink mermaid tail.
The event is free for families, which feels like the right price. A $20 parking donation is part of what gives Hellen Woodward Animal Shelter about one million dollars in event revenue, per their 2022 annual report.
Back at the beach, a crowd gathers on the bluff that supports Highway 101. Abuzz with anticipation, thousands of spectators create noisy ripples of energy, applause, and whistles as surf-dog hilarity ensues.
Here's the kicker. The pups actually smile.
Surfside, parents aid pooches with a gentle shove into the barrel one by one. They slow-roll to the beach and hang 20.
This year's event extends a lifeline to dogs impacted by the Maui fires, uniting them with new families at Hellen Woodward.
The event has been going on for 18 years now
"Did you get the shot?" I ask Luke, an aspiring veterinarian. "Multiple!" he grins back, confidence growing.
Bathed in the morning light and saltwater brine, my son cooks up harmless mischief, and his anticipation grows just as a large wave breaks on us. Wiped out, I'm left to ponder the universe's great dog mystery: Are dog smiles from attention, water, or wind-in-the-ears? If only they could talk.
Fleetingly, dogs are celebrities, as each ride tells a tale of family and companionship. There is even a children's book called "Dozer Surfs" by the event's announcer in the judges' tower, Douglas Hokstad.
The story follows Dozer the dog, who didn't know personal greatness was in him until he tried surfing and discovered it. Being open-minded and trying new things is the idea. And that's exactly what we did that day at the beach with my son.
Eva Lagudi-Devereux, special events manager at Hellen Woodward Animal Shelter, has been running the event for the past couple of years. Along with Gigi Hokstad, SoCal Surf Dogs head trainer, they form an engine that makes it all go. "There's a reason this is one of our most popular events," said Lagudi-Devereux. "The absolute heart in this day is unmatched."
"You can be blue or red, rich or poor here. It doesn't matter," reflected an onlooker named Pomme, "We're all human, and dogs share their joy."
As the 2023 waves recede into autumn, we all treasure moments of youth and freedom. Rare as a dog on a wave, this event is a precious reminder that sometimes the universe gets it just right.
Luke and I forge a thankful link to a chain of fathers and sons seeking beach adventure, getting wet, and trying new things. This time, it was photography.