加州小狗冲浪大赛

California¹ Dogs Riding The Waves 加州小狗冲浪大赛

Some people enjoy the water sport of surfing.

Many others enjoy watching those surfers riding the waves.

And still others enjoy watching when dogs ride the waves.

Dogs?

Last weekend, groups of surfers and their dogs took to the waves in the seventh “Surf City Surf Dog” competition. It took place at Huntington Dog Beach, a short drive from Los Angeles, California. 

Many of the dogs surfed like experts, facing both forward and backward². Some fell off their surfboards and into the ocean. But for most at the annual³ competition, it was all fun and play.

A boxer⁴ named Hanzo was a crowd favorite. He has competed in the surfing competition in each of the past seven years. Eric Felland is Hanzo’s owner.

"That was a really fun, fun ride today. Really exciting to see the crowd get behind Hanzo."

The dogs competed in four weight-class divisions⁵. They were judged on different skills, including the length of their ride and their confidence⁶ on the surfboard. Some dogs appeared very sure in their ability to succeed. Others did not.

?James Wall owns Faith, an American Pitbull Terrier. He says there are two important requirements⁷ for dog surfing.

"First the dog has to love the water, that's one of the biggest things, and then balance. There's various ways you can train the dog on balance. What we did was we took her to the bay⁸ area where it's calm water, put her on a board, got her used to the balance and slowly progressed into waves. And here she is now."

A Pitbull/American Bulldog mix named Copper⁹ competed in the surfing contest for the first time. John Daly is Copper’s owner.

"This is his first competition, but he really likes it, so we're hoping just to kind of learn and keep coming."

In the end, some dog surfers left with medals. But in the eyes of their owners, all of the dogs were winners.

Words in This Story

annual – adj. happening once a year

confidence – n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

contest – n. competition

1 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

2 backward   

adv./adj.向后地；相反地；退步地

参考例句：

• Because of his long illness,Tom is backward in his studies.因为汤姆长期生病，所以在学习中成绩落后。
• The rainy season is backward this year.今年雨季来得晚。

3 annual   

adj.每年的；一年的；（植物）一年生的 n.年刊；一年生植物

参考例句：

• It's an annual report.这是年度报告。
• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。

4 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

5 divisions   

n.分开( division的名词复数 )；分界线；分歧；分离

参考例句：

• The country's political divisions are deep-seated. 这个国家的政治分歧根深蒂固。
• The country's political divisions are deep-seated. 这个国家的政治分歧根深蒂固。

6 confidence   

n.信任，信托，自信，信心，把握，大胆，厚颜，过于自信，狂妄

参考例句：

• We have full confidence in our victory.我们有必胜的把握。
• I should like to exchange a few words with you in confidence.我想私下和你交换点意见。

7 Requirements   

n.所需的（或所要的）东西；必要条件，必备的条件；要求( requirement的名词复数 )；必要条件；需要；需要的东西

参考例句：

• the basic requirements of life 基本生活所需
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements. 这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 bay   

n.海湾，狗吠声，月桂；vt.吠，使走投无路；vi.吠

参考例句：

• I enjoy the view of the bay in the starlight.我喜欢星光下的海湾风景。
• Dogs sometimes bay at the moon.狗有时会朝着月亮吠叫。

9 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。