Otter Steals Surfer’s High-Performance Surf Mat Leaving Him $500 Poorer

Is it time that the WSL finally forms a league, especially for otters? Because it seems like the little guys are eager to show off their surfing skills to the entire world. In recent months, these wild, but cute and plushy, sea animals have pushed off many surfers from their boards, choosing to ride the waves themselves instead. Who doesn’t remember the sea otter that stole a surfboard back in September?

Now, another footage has surfaced, which shows an otter snatching away expensive surfing equipment from a surfer, who tries to get away, but in vain. Maybe, otters enjoy the sport as much as humans, if not more. Definitely sounds like something scientists should be looking into right now.

Surfing expedition turns into grand surfboard theft

The video was posted on a platform called Vimeo by Pantopia Studios. The 30-seconds-long clip shows some surfers paddling away in the open water of the sea, with surfmats in their hands. It is soon made out that they are trying to get away from a sea otter that is fast approaching them. In a build-up that would match any crime thriller, the sea otter quickly makes its way toward the closest paddler, with one singular goal in its mind. It needs that surf mat, and it needs it right now.

Unfortunately for the escaping surfer, he cannot match the lightning speed of the otter and has to surrender his surfing equipment to the WSL Championship Tour hopeful. The otter happily drags the surf mat to itself and plops on it, floating away as the group can do little but watch. What is even more painful about the entire experience, is that the equipment stolen by the sea mammal is a fairly expensive one.

What the adorable thief stole from the surfer was a 4th Gear Flyer Omni surf mat that can retail for as much as $500. According to a report by Beach Grit, the same otter has been terrorizing many surfers along the coastline. In fact, another surfer shared their own tribulation and revealed that they nearly escaped the same otter by shoving their mat in their jacket and swimming away. Is that the trick, then? Hide your paraphernalia whenever you spot the rogues, as this is not the first time it has happened, and probably not the last.

The endearing menace that keeps on coming

In September 2022, Santa Cruz surfer Nick Ericksen was deprived of his surfboard when a pregnant female otter wanted it instead. In a video shared on Instagram, the otter is seen comfortable straddling the board, riding the waves like a true Santa Cruz surfer. Nick tried to shoo it away with some water splashes, but it simply did not want to budge. As Nick told CNN, “It climbed on and made itself at home.” 

Read more: In Pictures: Despite a Crowded Outing, Surfers Catch Rare Sight of Otter Choosing His Favorite Surfboard

The 4-year-old otter was a known personality in Santa Cruz, born in captivity and then released to her true home. As Nick’s mammal rival wanted a snack while surfing, it proceeded to gnaw away at the board, baring its teeth when he tried to get it back. Otter-1, Nick- 0. Moral of the story: if this ferocious pile of cuteness comes your way, you’d better hide your surfing equipment.

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