Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel: Difference between revisions

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Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel is a world-famous animal novelty act, featuring a squirrel who water skis around a heated pool. The act was begun in 1979 by Chuck and Lou Ann Best, and starting with an appearance on Real People, 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 first was killed after trying to paw bread from a toaster). 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.

Chuck Best used the RV and boat show circuit and his his cute squirrel Twiggy to get inappropriately close to children, particularly young girls.^{[citation needed]} At the time of Best's heart attack in 1997, several Midwestern boat show operators were considering canceling Twiggy's appearances because of complaints from parents. Since Best's death, Twiggy's popularity has only increased, while the unsavory bad old day are remembered by only a few.^{[citation needed]}

Twiggy has appeared in two Frat Pack films, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy, and on TV in the movie Down to Earth.

Twiggy will be performing at the Foothills Fall Festival in Maryville,TN from OCT 16-18 2009

References

^ ^a ^b Jeremy D. Bonfiglio (August 19 2007). "Squirrel act keeps going and going: NUTS for water skiing". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

www.skiingsquirrel.com - official website

This article about a rodent is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Bonfiglio-1] Jeremy D. Bonfiglio (August 19 2007). "Squirrel act keeps going and going: NUTS for water skiing". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 Twiggy is actually several [[Eastern gray squirrel|gray squirrels]] who have been trained in succession (the first was killed after trying to paw bread from a toaster). The retired squirrels live out their lives as family pets.<ref name="Bonfiglio"/> The squirrels are trained to ride on buoyant foam blocks, which are then towed behind a remote-controlled boat.
-Chuck Best used the [[Recreational vehicle|RV]] and boat show circuit and his his cute squirrel Twiggy to get inappropriately close to children, particularly young girls. At the time of Best's heart attack in 1997, several Midwestern boat show operators were considering canceling Twiggy's appearances because of complaints from parents. Since Best's death, Twiggy's popularity has only increased, while the unsavory bad old day are remembered by only a few.
+Chuck Best used the [[Recreational vehicle|RV]] and boat show circuit and his his cute squirrel Twiggy to get inappropriately close to children, particularly young girls.{{citation needed}} At the time of Best's heart attack in 1997, several Midwestern boat show operators were considering canceling Twiggy's appearances because of complaints from parents. Since Best's death, Twiggy's popularity has only increased, while the unsavory bad old day are remembered by only a few.{{citation needed}}
 Twiggy has appeared in two [[Frat Pack]] [[films]], ''[[Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story]]'' and ''[[Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', and on TV in the movie ''[[Down to Earth (2001 film)|Down to Earth]]''.