There are plenty of heartwarming stories to come out of the World Dog Surfing Championships each year, but few can match the remarkable journey shared by one competitor and her four-legged teammate.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 2026 edition of the event brought together dogs of all shapes and sizes to ride the waves in Pacifica, California, with competitors judged on how long they can stay on their surfboards, the size of the waves they tackle, and the confidence they show while surfing.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the championships take place in the coastal city of Pacifica, around 14 miles south of San Francisco. Beyond the spectacle of surfing dogs, the event also serves a bigger purpose by raising money for local animal charities and featuring a pet adoption programme.
Among those taking to the water this year were Sophia Sadlowski and her Miniature Pinscher, Rusty, whose story extends far beyond surfing, per KSAT.
Sadlowski revealed that Rusty’s surfing career began when he was just four months old after an impromptu trip to the beach turned into something much bigger.
Speaking to AP News, she recalled: “I took him to the beach, I took my surf board, I took a couple of little photos. He doesn’t get off, he didn’t wanna get off.
“And then I walk over to the beach, I put him on a wave… and he surfed it. And then I’m like ‘Oh, there’s a surf competiton, I’m going to enter him’,” she continued. “He was four months old and he took third place. So we’ve been surfing since then. We got hooked.”
What started as a spontaneous day by the ocean has since become a lasting tradition for the pair, who continue to compete together years later.
Their appearance at the 2026 championships carried even greater significance because both Sadlowski and Rusty have overcome cancer.
Reflecting on their shared journey, she said: “We’re both cancer-free right now. So, you know, we are blessed people. And dog. I consider him a people.”
Their story stood out as one of the most inspiring moments from this year’s competition, highlighting the unique bond between owner and pet that has been strengthened both on and off the waves.
While Sadlowski and Rusty’s journey captured plenty of attention, the competition itself crowned a new champion.
The “Top Dog” title for 2026 went to Rippin’ Rosie Drottar, a five-year-old Labrador Retriever from Santa Cruz.
Rosie competes alongside her owner, Steve Drottar, a prosecuting attorney who has spent 40 years surfing. The pair are regulars in the water, surfing together four or five times each week whenever conditions allow.
Featured image credit: RustyTheSurfingMinpin / Instagram
