Del Mar Dog Beach surfing festival ends in chaos as judges forced to cancel the final

A beloved California dog surfing competition was thrown off course Sunday when rough conditions forced judges to abruptly scrap the final round over fears the waves had become too dangerous for the pups.Nearly 100 dogs splashed into the surf at Del Mar Dog Beach for the 21st annual Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon, captivating a crowd of hundreds who gathered in the upscale seaside town to cheer on the four-legged wave riders.Dogs of all shapes and sizes balanced on surfboards, some sporting goggles and life vests as their owners helped guide them into the surf.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Others competed side by side, with dogs sharing boards or catching waves alongside their humans during the tandem portion of the event.But the competition took a turn when the tide rose and the surf grew rougher.Judges ultimately canceled the Best-In-Surf final after determining the conditions were no longer safe enough for the dogs to continue competing.A group of dogs was pictured wiping out together during the tandem dog division as the waves rolled through.The competition divided dogs into several groups, including big dog, small dog and tandem categories, with the top finishers normally advancing to a final Best-In-Surf heat.Organizers had already tightened safety protocols for this year’s competition, limiting water access to three-person teams consisting of a handler, a center flagger and a retriever, according to the Helen Woodward Animal Center.Competing dogs also wore flotation vests while on their boards.Among those photographed at Sunday’s event was Ryan Rustan, who was seen hugging his dog Sweet after the pair competed.Rustan and Sweet were also pictured sharing a wave with Steve Drotter and his dog Rosie during the competition.Other pups were photogra...