Date : Saturday, September 30

Location : Guy Harvey Outpost Resort St. Augustine Beach – 860 A1A Beach Boulevard, St Augustine Beach, FL (Beach side)

Check-in Time : 10:00 am-10:45 am. Please be prompt as we will not check-in anyone arriving after 10:45am. Everyone competing should stay in or nearby the Surf Entry Tent with other participants until your Heat division is announced. All surfing dogs must have one person in water with PAWticipants and one person on shore to “catch” them as their ride is finished. There will be volunteer handler to assist. If you are alone and need a volunteer handler, please let us know when signing up. Dog must wear flotation jacket (will be provided if needed) with identifying bandanna. Upon your dog completing his/her ride, please kindly exit the surfing zone to make room for upcoming competitors.

Competition Start Time : 11:00 AM SHARP (Please be in or near “SUR-FUR” Tent prior to START)

Weight Divisions / Heats :
Large dogs (51 + lbs.)
Medium dogs (21 lbs. – 50 lbs.)
Small dogs (20 lbs. and under)

Water Support Teams : To make sure the judges can see the action and score dogs accordingly, each PAW-ticipants will be allowed: Team of Two ~ (1) handler/launcher and (1) assistant/catcher.

In addition, a volunteer will be available for catching dog’s closer to shore. Volunteer will meet you and your dog before each heat; owner /handler will plan on how to handle the dogs and retrieve the surfboard and re-entry into the waves. Volunteers will assist in catching dogs as they come in. If no assistance is needed please kindly inform the staff.

Equipment : All dogs MUST wear a flotation device while competing. NO EXCEPTIONS PLEASE. This is for the safety of all PAW-ticipants and their team. All dogs, must wear contest-provided Bandanna so they are visible by judges. Leashing dogs to the board is prohibited. Dogs must be under Owners’ control at all times. We reserve the right to disqualify from our event any unruly, ill-behaved or (hopefully not) aggressive dogs at our discretion. So please remember this is meant to be a fun, safe event for everyone involved.

Heats : Each heat will begin and end with one long horn or whistle blast and display of a green flag. A 2-minute warning will be given. At the conclusion of the heat, competitors will immediately exit water and return board in preparation for the next heat.

Scoring/Judging Criteria : : We welcome “first-timers”. We want this to be a friendly and fun competition for the teams. For that reason, not all our prizes are based upon surfing/paddleboard skill. In fact, some are based on just plain ole luck! Judging criteria will include: Best Sur-fur, Longest ride, Best Trick on Board, Best WipeOut, Most Photogenic, and Crowd Favorite. So dogs and owners, grab your Balls and Boards and come along to learn something new.

Surf Etiquette : Please be respectful of everyone around you. SAFETY COMES FIRST : No Interference /snaking: Positioning himself or herself in front, around, or behind a competitor to impede and take wave possession is known as snaking. Any action that impedes a contestant riding or taking off on a wave, in front of the rider in possession will result in an interference call. In cases where a rider is in front of another unknowingly, or so appears, to judges, no interference shall be called. If you see any dawg or person in trouble please help them first. Safety is our first priority!!! Unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for removal and disqualification from contest. This would be outburst or intimidation of other PAW-ticipants and /or spectators, volunteers, judges and organizers.

This is a family fun event and we value and respect our participant, sponsors/vendors, volunteers and judges. We request the same respect for all the attendees in return.

Awards ceremony will be at 2:00 PM or immediately after judges have tallied scores and will be held at the beach.

Covid 19 – Safety Protocols

Let’s have a fun day on the water with our fury family members and friends, but also remember to be safe and practice social distancing. If you are either participating or a spectator let’s remember to not crowd the paw”ticipants and others to and keep our distance.

SUR”FUR” PARTICIPANTS

• Anyone who has registered to surf will receive a face gaiter for a protective covering, which we will request them to wear when they are unable to social distance at the event.
• Only one member from each team will be allowed to awards tent at a time.
• Teams will not be allowed to gather at or near the awards tent. We will have signage recommending social distancing and to continue to practice safe social distancing.
• A mask will be required at any meeting where social distancing is not possible.
• We will also include a complimentary hand sanitizer in sur’furs’ welcome bags and individual water bottles, so they do not have to congregate at a water cooler.

JUDGES / VOLUNTEERS

• Judges / Volunteers will receive a face gaiter and will be required to wear a face mask any time social distancing is not an option.

SPECTATORS

• Spectators come out and cheer on your favorites. Remember not to crowd the “surfurs” owners, or each other. Let’s have a great Dog Surf Contest!