It’s that time of year on the Florida coast.
Spring break, sunshine, and spring storms that bring in some nice waves for surfing.
But now surfing in Florida has gone to the dogs and beach goers are thrilled.
Beach residents in Florida are in the middle of the busiest time of the year.
Not your father’s surfing tournament
Spring Break is winding down.
Tourists are flocking to the Sunshine State.
There are parties, celebrations, beach volleyball, and of course surfing tournaments.
But this Easter surfing tournament isn’t what you would expect.
It’s not your father’s surfing tournament, in fact you could say this tournament has gone to the dogs.
Because canines were the ones conquering the waves in Florida at the Brevard Humane Society’s 13th annual East Coast Dog Surfing Festival.
The Easter tradition at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach included 23 “radical rovers” dog paddling their surfboards and then shredding the waves on Easter Sunday.
The competition was attended by dozens more dogs and roughly 5,000 human spectators.
Sharkin Sammie the ten-tear-old chiweenie — a cross between a chihuahua and a dachshund — successfully defended his 2024 title by taking the top spot in this year’s canine competition.
And Sharkin Sammie won for the second year in a row despite stiff competition from Tik Tok sensation Gnarly Charley, a Golden Retriever and Jersey boy who traveled all the way from the Garden State to participate in this year’s tournament.
Marley the Corgi, last year’s winner of the Good Sport award, made a return appearance and again proved to be a true gentleman in the sand and waves.
🇺🇸 In Florida, the annual dog surfing festival took place, where for the second year in a row, Sammy—a Chihuahua and Dachshund mix—took first place. This year, 23 dogs participated, and around 5,000 people attended as spectators. pic.twitter.com/Yn81NmRSaK
— Based & Viral (@ViralBased) April 28, 2025
“The dogs really do want to surf, just like people,” Theresa Clifton of the Brevard Humane Society told WOFL-TV. “It’s another way that we can show the public that animals are part of our family.”
But surfing wasn’t the only entertainment at the beach that day.
Barking in their bikinis
The festival, which is sponsored by the Ron Jon Surf Shop, also featured both a canine bikini contest and an Easter outfit contest.
There should also be a prize for the owner who gets his dog into a bikini without problem.
And there was also a “bunny paddle out” where dogs and owners paddled out over the waves with the first fifty finishers getting a pair of bunny ears.
There were also doggie surfing lessons for the newcomers in the crowd.
Coverage of the canine surfing festival was widespread and included social media stars and podcasters Jax and Willie Good Dog.
Jax acted as a lifeguard while Willie participated in the surfing competition.
While Willie didn’t win the overall competition, he did take home the coveted “Most Pawsitive Surf Vibe” award.
Proceeds from the festival go to benefit the Brevard Humane Society and based on the attendance numbers it was a big success.
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