The incredible surfing rats

Life's a beach for pet rats Fin and Tofu who have made waves as the world's only rodents that can surf.

Boomer Hodel, 14, has trained his two white rats to surf on custom-built 1ft long boards.

Fin and Tofu, both one-year-old rats, regularly take to the sea and surf waves up to 4ft and are even on a special diet to stay in shape.

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Surfin' USA: Boomer Hodel with Tofu his incredible surfing rat. The teenager built a surfboard for his rats Tofu and Fin and spent weeks teaching them to hold on until they can now handle full tube waves in Haleiwa, Hawaii

Hodel started their training by gently pushing the rats into tiny ripples at the water's edge before moving them on to more advanced waves.

Both the rats can swim and, after some early tumbles, can now perform tricks - often catching 'tubes' in front of stunned onlookers.

Hodel, of Haleiwa , Hawaii, takes his rats surfing twice a week and draws big crowds of spectators at his local Laniakea Beach.

He said: "Running on a wheel isn't enough for Fin and Tofu - they like a more extreme rush. They love surfing.

"When they first started they were pretty shaky and would fall off quite a lot, but now their balance is so good they fall off less than most human surfers.

Both the rats can swim and after some early tumbles can now perform tricks

"Fin's favourite trick is a tube ride - where the wave breaks over him and he rides through a tunnel of water.

"Sometimes he falls off his board and I have to take him back to the beach to warm him up with a towel. But he is always raring to get back out there.

"The first time I took the rats down to the beach it was to give them a wash because they were all dirty. But they loved the water so much I had to take them back.

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Hang 10: Hodel started by gently pushing the rats into tiny ripples at the water's edge, then moved on to more advanced waves and taught him to perform tricks like 'tube-riding'

"It also keeps them in great shape. I've put them on a special surfing diet as well which has really boosted their performance.

"I give them high protein, low carbohydrate foods. Rats are natural swimmers and have a very adventurous spirit."

Hodel takes his rats surfing for 20 minutes at a time and then takes them back to the beach to warm them up in the sun and dry them off with a towel.

He made the 1ft-long surfboards himself with the help of pals Jeremy Martin, 14, and Akila Barrnett , 14.

Ratical: Children watch Fin the incredible surfing rat in action

Hodel got the idea when he snapped his surfboard on a big wave and decided to turn each half into a smaller surfboard using sandpaper and fibreglass.

His incredible pets were caught on camera by Hawaiin photographer Clark Little.

He said: "I saw these kids walking down the beach with two rats and some tiny surfboards so I went over to see what they were doing.

"I couldn't believe it when the rats started surfing. They was really good, surfing very fast and having a grand old time.

"I thought it was weird at first at first but they both seem to really enjoy it and the rats are good swimmers.

"Rats are survivors. Maybe that's why these ones are so good at extreme sports."

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Wipe-out: Hodel takes his pets surfing for 20 minutes at a time before heading back to the beach to warm up in the sun and dry off with a towel

via elertgadget.com