How a 10-year-old yellow labrador called Charlie became a surfing sensation

3 months ago 24

By Audrey McAvoy

August 3, 2025 — 1.45pm

Charlie, a 10-year-old yellow lab in California, likes surfing so much that he will 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, 22 kilometres south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Surfing Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Pacifica State Beach.

Jeff Nieboer pushes Charlie through the breakers during the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California, on Saturday.

Rusty catches a wave in the second heat for small dogs.

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 colourful boards and hang 10 as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinised how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed tricks such as turning around while riding.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the first time this year, her owner, David Fasoli, said.

Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a non-sporting human combined with a non-sporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has an 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.

Philippe Bachmann, left, and David Fasoli help Coconut and Iza Surf Dog catch a wave together.

Carson Surf Dog jumps off his board after catching a wave.

“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.

Faith, a pitbull terrier, gets pushed through the breakers by James Wall.

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

“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.

Coconut takes on a wave during the competition.

“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.