Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel

Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel is an animal novelty act, featuring a squirrel who skis around a heated pool. The act began in 1979 by Chuck and Lou Ann Best and started with an appearance on Real People. It has been featured on numerous television shows, newspaper articles, and websites.

The Bests are based in Deltona, Florida. They found an orphaned squirrel after Hurricane David and raised it as a family pet who would ride on their shoulders even as they dipped in the pool. Having purchased a remote-controlled boat for his daughter, Chuck demurred handing over the controls, joking that he had to teach Twiggy to water-ski; the joke was soon taken seriously, albeit with no initial intent of publicity.[1]

Twiggy is actually several gray squirrels who have been trained in succession. The retired squirrels live out their lives as family pets.[1] The squirrels are trained to ride on buoyant foam blocks, which are then towed behind a remote-controlled boat.

Twiggy has appeared in two Frat Pack films, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy. Twiggy has also made an appearance on TV in the movie Down to Earth, Megamind and the music video for Brad Paisley's "River Bank".

References

  1. 1 2 Jeremy D. Bonfiglio (August 19, 2007). "Squirrel act keeps going and going: NUTS for water skiing". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-21.

External links

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