Ruff waves for canine surfers

The winning team - Freddie, Lily and Opal show their style. Pictures: Rob Maccoll

Big waves, rips and choppy conditions made for an action-packed VetshopAustralia Dog Surfing Championship on Main Beach last Saturday.

Thousands of onlookers crowded the beach to watch the surfing duos and trios in the much-loved part of Noosa’s Festival of Surfing.

There were plenty of canine capers as old faces mixed with newcomers at the event in its 11th year.

Fourteen-year-old Opal has attended each year since she was four, surfing with her dad, Paul Jones, the three-time winner competing this year with Opal’s younger brother, Huey, 8, and Hugsley. Opal was part of Team Freddie with friend Lily and their black pug, Freddie, taking out the ultimate prize of the Best Wave award.

They were up against some steep competition with 2021 winners Dan and Pickles back in the surf. Before the event Dan entertained the crowds with the acrobatic tricks of best mate, Sage.

Competing for the first time was Team Pickles, the Groodle showing she could stand on two legs like her humans, Michelle and Luke.

And travelling from Melbourne was Rob and rescue dog Spike, whose journey from adoption to surf champion has been captured in a book, Spike Surfs.