Canines catch waves at the World Dog Surfing Championships

California welcomed four-legged surfers to a San Francisco beach this weekend as part of the annual World Dog Surfing Championships.

Thousands of spectators gathered at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, close to San Francisco, to watch the canine contestants compete in the annual event which has taken place since 2016.

The talented pups competed in categories scored for “confidence, style and how long they could stay on the board”, said The San Francisco Standard. However, this year’s contestants faced more challenging conditions than in previous years, due to “choppier”, faster-breaking waves, reported The San Francisco Chronicle.

The annual surf competition isn’t just about showing off the surfing prowess of San Franciscans’ four-legged friends – the sporting contest also raises money for local animal charities. Similar events are also held in Florida, Australia and the UK.