Sun, sand, surf… Chihuahuas? Last week, America’s surfer dogs gathered for a competition in sunny Galveston, Texas. One of the surprise winners was Jasper, a first-time surfer dog hailing from Dallas. He may not have caught the biggest waves, but he did win the Tito’s Spirit Award, given to the pup who showed the most dedication and crowd-charming personality.

Let’s dive into this adorable surfing competition!

What the heck is dog surfing?

Dog surfing is exactly what it sounds like, and no, the owners are not on the boards with them. Surfing dogs must wear lifejackets, and their owners are allowed to get them in position and push the board to help catch the wave. Once the dog has caught the wave, the owners are no longer allowed to push or direct the board – it’s all up to the surfer dog to ride the wave to shore!

Take a look at this video to see them in action:

The Ohana Surf Dog Competition

The Ohana Surf Dog Competition, which took place on July 19th at the beach in Galveston, drew 1,000 attendees and 36 adorable surfing competitors. The competition supported the Galveston Island Humane Society.

The winners of the surfing competition included Poopie Johnson, a Chihuahua from Galveston who already has a serious local following. He took home the Kahuna Top Dog + Small Dog Champion trophies. The Big Dog Champion was Bluey, an appropriately named Blue Heeler therapy dog from Houston.

All About Jasper, the Tito’s Spirit Award Winner

Jasper is a 10-year-old dappled Chihuahua hailing from Dallas, Texas. As a first-time surfer, he may not have won the whole competition, but he did show plenty of dedication and charm. His owner drove them round-trip from Dallas to Galveston in just 24 hours, and in the competition, he got high marks for staying on the board through many heats. Pretty amazing for a brand-new surfer dude!

What’s the Tito’s Spirit Award?

Tito’s Vodka is the major sponsor of this competition, as well as other dog surfing competitions around the country. It’s part of their Vodka for Dog People initiative, which supports animal welfare organizations and helps distillery dogs and cats. Their Spirit Award recognizes dogs and cats who may not be expert surfers but certainly know how to work a crowd!

Past Award Winners

As a Spirit Award winner, Jasper is in excellent company. Previous winners include August Ray, a surfing cat who won in 2021, as well as Finn, a deaf Dalmatian who stole hearts in 2024.

Other Dog Surfing Competitions

If you can’t make it to Galveston for next year’s Ohana, check out the competitions happening elsewhere in the country:

Surf City Surf Dog – Taking place in the famous surf city of Huntington Beach, California, this September competition features an expo, interactive dog-themed activities, custom merch, and – of course – a surf dog competition at Imperial Beach.

World Dog Surfing Championships – The San Francisco Bay Area takes credit for inventing dog surfing, so it makes sense that the World Dog Surfing Championships would be based there! Taking place in the coastal town of Pacifica in early August, this competition is free to attend and will also be featured on ESPN.

East Coast Dog Surfing Festival – For dog lovers in Florida, this festival is a can’t miss! Featuring a dog surfing competition, lessons for beginners, live music, and even a dog bikini contest (!), this Cocoa Beach event takes place every April.

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Featured image credit: Tito’s Handmade Vodka

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