When Hot-dogging is not a Metaphor

The Bay Area is home to special events, but none more unique than the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica (note--all photos from the Chronicle were taken by Richard Grant):

This year’s competition was foggy and cold, with messy chop that made wave-riding more challenging, several competitors said. Several surfers swam their dogs far out into the surf to find better waves, their pooches confidently perched on their boards as they sped through waves that reached 4 or 5 feet tall.

I liked Iza's story because I'm partial to bulldogs:

Iza, the French bulldog, competed in the Pacifica championship for the fourth time, said her owner, David Fasoli.

Iza is an unlikely surfer, Fasoli said. He adopted the Frenchie during the COVID-19 pandemic. With little to do, he frequently took her to the beach.

She loved running in and out of the waves, and later, while boating, he watched as a friend’s daughter took the pup tubing.

Fasoli, who works at Costco, decided to see how she’d take to surfing.

Carson

He bought a surfboard and gradually taught Iza to get comfortable riding it in his pool, then returned to the beach, bringing Iza out into the surf, holding the board until a wave caught it.

Soon, Iza was riding small waves into shore.

“To see this 1-year old French bulldog piece it all together, take a little wave in, run to shore, turn around and come back and want to continue to learn … it was a magical moment,” he said. “I was super proud.”

Charlie

On Saturday, Iza won the medium division and competed for a shot at the top prize.

Some animal lovers may regard surfing as cruel, but most of the dogs seem to be eager to go out to catch the next wave. More than that, they derive happiness from making the people they love most in the world happy, another trait they share with human beings.