Who's the top dog? Wave-riding canines compete in World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica

PACIFICA, Calif. -- Charlie the 10-year-old yellow lab likes surfing so much, he'll grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Pacifica, 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Surfing Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Pacifica State Beach.

Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the finals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs surfing tandem or riding with people.

Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.

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Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called "The Dream Team."

"He loves the crowd," owner Maria Nieboer said.

Charlie and Nieboer's husband, Jeff Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Jeff spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to "get ready."

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore.

He doesn't have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

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"Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we're in the water," Jeff said.

Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

Charlie's "Dream Team" compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-year-old's owner, Steve Drottar, said she is "stoked" after they go surfing, which they do four to five times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

"It's like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team," Drottar said. "And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a different bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk."

He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.

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"It's like we go home on the couch and it feels like she's saying, 'Thank you,'" Drottar said.

James Wall and his dog, Faith, took home another trophy on Saturday.

"She's won her division now three times. We've won 'Tandem' two times," Wall said. "And it's awesome. We go out, we have fun with our dog, and we bring smile and joy to all these other peoples."

But Wall said this year's competition was Faith's "swan song."

She's calling it a career after this one. So, he brought her out to ride off into the sunset one last time.

ABC7 News contributed to this report.