Animals and Water Sports

Animals and Water Sports

Jayson Mellom/The Tribune/AP

Animals show they can keep up with their owners and have just as much fun with water sports, such as surfing, water skiing, wakeboarding and skimboarding. Saint, a three-year-old golden retriever, catches a wave in Morro Bay, Calif. His owner said he has been surfing most of his life.

Pilar Olivares/REUTERS

Peruvian surfer Domingo Pianezzi rides a wave with his alpaca Pisco at a beach in Lima. Pianezzi has spent a decade training dogs to ride the nose of his board when he catches waves, and now he is the first to do so with an alpaca.

Jim Thompson, Albuquerque Journal/AP

Never thought you'd see a surfing polar bear? Well, this fluffy beast stays cool as it does a little disk surfing on a beautiful spring day at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, N.M.

Dale Porter/AP

These four dogs, Nani, Ricochet, Dozer, and Toby (L-R), share a surfboard and a good time at the Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon. When was the last time you saw four humans on the same surfboard?

Mike Blake/REUTERS

Kai, an eight-year old Russell Terrier, hangs on for dear life as she competes in the 4th annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon. At least the surfboard matches the life vest.

Mike Blake/REUTERS

Bentley, a two-year-old Pug, rides a wave as he competes in the 4th annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon. Do you think his ride scored better than Kai's?

Mike Blake/REUTERS

This six-year old Pomeranian aptly named Bobby Gorgeous waits to compete in his costume contest at the 4th annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon.

Liana J. Cooper, Racine Journal Times/AP

Twiggy, a squirrel owned by Lou Ann Best, of Sanford, Fla., water skis around a pool pulled by a radio-controlled boat during the 13th annual Racine, Wis. In-Water Boat Show. In addition to three other Twiggys, the Best family has taught a miniature horse, a miniature poodle, an armadillo, a toad and a cat to water ski.

Nigel Cook, Daytona Beach News-Journal/AP

The surfing cat named Tobby hangs 20 after a helpful push from her owner. The 13-month-old cat not only enjoys riding the waves, but also likes to ride the back of her masters motorcycle attired with her own helmet. Who knew cats liked adventure?

Liz Dane/REUTERS

Queenie, an Asian elephant, water skis upon specially created water skis to keep her huge body afloat at a park in Florida, where she was the star of a water skiing show. Sadly, Queenie was euthanized at a Georgia wildlife park, May 30, 2011, where she lived her final years in retirement.

David Maung/EPA

Two dogs ride together on a surfboard while their owner cheers them on during the 6th Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition, which took place on Imperial Beach, Calif.

Denis Poroy/REUTERS

Old British bulldogs (not typically known as very athletic dogs) Louie (R) and Betsy (L) ride a wave together during the Loews Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, California.

Denis Poroy/REUTERS

This guy shows off his love for America and his surfing dog, Mr. Tuff, as he waits for a wave during the Loews Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, California.

Juda Ngwenya/REUTERS

Well, this Australian emu is just a stuffed animal, but it still contributes to the Olympic sport of kayaking. Andrew Trim of Australia placed the stuffed Australian emu on his shoulders after the men's K2 500m kayak sprint at the Regatta Center at the Sydney Olympics.

Imago/ZUMApress.com

A couple of sea lions hang around a wakeboard at the Palmolive Kitesurf World Cup 2010. Their wakeboarding careers happened so fast that no one could get a picture.

Jim Gerberich/AP

Maya, a two-year old mixed Lab, rides the surf in Lavalette, N. J. Maya's owner was teaching his dog to balance on his surfboard.

Alan Gibson, New Zealand Herald/AP

Ralph, a purebred mutt, surfs a wave with his owner on the beach of Mt. Maunganui, near Auckland, New Zealand.

STR/REUTERS

Spinnaker, a six-year-old Australian terrier, takes a wave on a boogie board in Russel, New Zealand.

Jim Tiller, Daytona Beach News-Journal/AP

Snoopy, a water-loving pit bull, gets a ride atop a boogie board. Snoopy sure looks comfortable. His owner? Not so much.

Bill Greenblatt/UPI

That dog is probably about as happy as he looks. Brown Sugar and his owner struggle to stay up on their ski as they water ski in 20 degree temperatures on the Mississippi River in St. Louis on New Year's Day. Why does he brave the cold? Good question.

Damian Dovarganes/AP

A Jack Russell dog named Porter shows off his skimboarding skills at a casting call to appear on the "Havin' a Splash" float in the 122nd Tournament of the Roses Parade.

Eliseo Fernandez/REUTERS

Surf dog Duke catches a wave during a training session for the Chile Extremo surf school, run by Duke's owner, about 75 miles northwest of Santiago, Chile. The students watching Duke hope that one day they can surf just as well.

Chris Ware/KEYSTONE Pictures/ZUMA Press

This German Shepherd was a fanatic for water sports, according to his owner. At three years old he was already an experienced water skier. I wonder if he still enjoys water skiing today (at an age upwards of 50 human years)?

Christian Charisius/REUTERS

A woman wakeboards dressed as an elk; hopefully, that costume cushions any pain if and when she wipes out.

Stephen Osman/AP

Buddy, a 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier, makes like a human and surfs on just two legs.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

This dog looks prime to get a high score at a surf dog contest held in Huntington Beach, California on September 25, 2011.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

Unfortunately, this dog does not look so primed to get a high score, as he leaps from his board while wiping out.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

This dog nearly blends in with the wave during the competition. Let's hope he receives high marks for his disappearing act.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

The wave overcomes this poor dog during a surf dog competition, and he is knocked off the board.

Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS

This boxer, named Hanzo Felland, cuts cleanly through the wave, with a symmetrical wave adding to the run.