🏄 2027 HANG 8 DOG SURFING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Catch a Wave, Win Big
Surf's up, Daytona Beach! 🐾
Whether your pup is a seasoned surfing pro or ready to catch their first wave, we're excited to welcome you to the Hang 8 Dog Surfing National Championships, part of Dogs of Daytona 2027!
Before hitting the water, check out everything you need to know about the competition, from surfing divisions and judging to the awards up for grabs!
🐶 Competition Divisions
Every surfing superstar deserves a chance to shine!
-Small Dog Surfing - Up to 20 lbs.
-Medium Dog Surfing - 21 to 40 lbs.
-Large Dog Surfing - Over 40 lbs.
-Human/Dog Tandem - Humans and their surfing sidekicks!
🌊 Competition Format
Each surfing heat will last 15 to 20 minutes, as determined by the Head Surf Official.
Competitors can catch as many waves as they'd like during their heat, but only their two highest scoring waves will count toward their final score.
🏆 Championship Awards
The top four competitors in each division will be recognized:
🥇 First Place
🥈 Second Place
🥉 Third Place
🏅 Honorable Mention
🌟 Specialty Awards
Some pups make waves in their own special way!
🏄 Best Wave
🌊 Best Wipeout
🎨 Most Creative
😎 Most Chill
🤙 Most Stoked
🐾 Wednesday Award
🏅 Judging Criteria
Each surfing performance is evaluated on a 10 point scale using the following criteria:
1. 🛟 Safety
Keeping our surfing pups safe is always the top priority! Handlers are responsible for choosing waves appropriate for their dog's abilities and maintaining their safety throughout the competition.
2. 🐶 Enjoyment
Happy surfers make the best surfers! Judges look for relaxed body language, enthusiasm, and willing participation. Dogs should never be forced to surf.
3. 🌊 Wave Performance
Judges consider the speed, power, flow, and distance of each wave ridden.
4. 🏄 Style & Technique
Creativity counts! Special abilities, maneuvers, surfing technique, and overall style are all part of the evaluation.
🛟 Safety for Our Surfing Dogs Comes First! 🐾
Our surfing pups' safety and well-being are always our top priorities! Before heading into the water, please review the following competition safety requirements.
🐾 Dog Surfing Safety Rules
🛟 Life Jackets Required
All competing dogs must wear a dog life jacket or flotation vest.
An exception may be granted by the Head Surf Official for exceptionally large dogs when a life jacket is impractical and the dog demonstrates exceptional ocean swimming ability.
🚫 No Tethering to Surfboards
Dogs may NOT be tethered directly to their surfboards.
Doing so will result in automatic disqualification.
🏄 Surfboard Leashes
Surfboard retrieval leashes must be attached only to the board and may not exceed 6 feet in length.
🐾 Dog Leashes
Dog leashes must be attached only to the dog's life vest and may not exceed 6 feet in length.
🚫 No Neck Collar Attachments
Leashes attached to a dog's neck collar are not permitted in the water.
🚫 No Retractable Leashes
Retractable leashes of any kind are prohibited in the water.
🏄 Surfboard Size Requirements
To keep the competition safe and fair, the following surfboard size limitations apply:
Maximum Surfboard Size
-🐶 Small Dog - 8 ft. soft top OR 7 ft. fiberglass/epoxy
- 🐕 Medium Dog - 9 ft.
-🐕🦺 Large Dog - No maximum
-🏄 Human/Dog Tandem - No maximum
❤️ Happy Dogs Make the Best Surfers!
Please remember that your dog's safety, comfort, and enjoyment always come first.
If your pup isn't comfortable in the water or isn't having fun, it's okay to call it a day!
We want every competitor to have a safe, positive, and memorable experience. 🐾🌊
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