Rough Waves Force Cancellation of Dog Surfing Final at Del Mar Fundraiser Judges ended the Best-In-Surf final at the 21st annual Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon after rough waves and a rising tide made conditions too dangerous for the dogs. Rough surf and a rising tide forced judges to cancel the final round of a popular California dog surfing competition on Sunday, ending the day's Best-In-Surf heat before several of the leading teams could compete. The decision was made after organizers concluded that the waves had become too hazardous for the dogs, despite a large crowd gathering at Del Mar Dog Beach to watch the 21st annual Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon. Dogs of different sizes appeared in the water on surfboards, with some wearing goggles, life vests or colorful costumes. Their handlers helped guide them into the surf, while other dogs rode toward shore independently.Several teams shared boards during the tandem division, and additional competitors caught waves beside their human partners. Photographs from the event showed a white dog wearing blue goggles, a pug in a red shirt riding a matching red board, and multiple dogs losing their balance together as the water grew rough. The competition featured separate divisions for large dogs, small dogs and tandem teams.Participants were also separated by weight, with classes ranging from dogs weighing between 1 and 20 pounds to those weighing 86 pounds or more. The usual procedure allowed the top finishers in those divisions to advance to a Best-In-Surf final. That final was abandoned after officials determined that continuing the competition would put the animals at unnecessary risk. Organizers had already strengthened safety procedures for this year's event by limiting each dog's access to the water to a three-person team.Each team consisted of a handler, a center flagger and a retriever. The arrangement was designed to give the animals more support while they entered the surf, balanced on their boards and returned toward shore. Among the participants pictured was Ryan Rustan, who was later seen embracing his dog Sweet after their run. Rustan and Sweet also shared a wave with Steve Drotter and his dog Rosie during the competition.Their participation highlighted one of the event's central attractions: close cooperation between dogs and their owners as the pairs navigated moving water and attempted to stay balanced on their boards. The Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon is more than a surfing contest. It is an annual fundraising event supporting animals awaiting adoption through the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a private no-kill nonprofit founded in Rancho Santa Fe in 1972.In addition to standard surfing divisions, the event traditionally features a Freestyle Surf competition for multi-dog teams and human-canine pairs, along with a canine costume contest. Those attractions drew dog owners, pets and spectators to the beach for a day combining competition, fundraising and public attention for animals in need of homes. The Helen Woodward Animal Center has previously worked with SoCal Surf Dogs to provide lessons at Del Mar Dog Beach.Dogs first practice balancing on surfboards on land before progressing to wave practice in shallow water. Even with that preparation and the tighter safety measures introduced this year, changing ocean conditions ultimately prevented judges from completing the event's final round