That's a narrow squeak! Danger mice learn how to skateboard

After teaching his mice to surf, Australian rodent trainer gets them in the half-pipe
Kathryn Bromwich15 August 2013

Rodent trainer Shane Willmott has taught mice how to skateboard - and the little rodents love it.

Australian Mr Willmott starts training the mice from birth in a specially-built mouse-sized skate park in his backyard near Brisbane.

Pet mice ride on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Shane Willmott in his backyard Skateboarding mice on The Gold Coast, Australia - Aug 2013 After achieving worldwide fame by teaching his pet mice to surf, Shane Willmott has now trained them to ride skateboards. These gnarly little dudes 'drop the vert ramp' and get airborne on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Mr Willmott in his Gold Coast backyard. The furry daredevils even fly through a ring of fire. Mr Willmott, who has been training mice to surf for about 10 years, said he decided to teach them to skate because it was too cold in winter to take them to the beach. "They love it," he said. "Mice are built to surf and skate because their centre of gravity is so low. When they do fall off, they want to get straight back on board."
Tim Marsden/Newspix / Rex Features

Mr Willmott came to fame in 2010 for teaching his pet mice to surf. Now, using toy skateboards, he has taught them how to jump off ramps, tackle half-pipes, and "drop a vert ramp".

Willmott trains the mice from an early age, pulling them along on the board with a piece of string so they get used to the the feeling.

Pet mice ride on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Shane Willmott in his backyard Skateboarding mice on The Gold Coast, Australia - Aug 2013 After achieving worldwide fame by teaching his pet mice to surf, Shane Willmott has now trained them to ride skateboards. These gnarly little dudes 'drop the vert ramp' and get airborne on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Mr Willmott in his Gold Coast backyard. The furry daredevils even fly through a ring of fire. Mr Willmott, who has been training mice to surf for about 10 years, said he decided to teach them to skate because it was too cold in winter to take them to the beach. "They love it," he said. "Mice are built to surf and skate because their centre of gravity is so low. When they do fall off, they want to get straight back on board."
im Marsden/Newspix / Rex Features

The trainer clearly loves his mice and does everything he can to care for their well-being.

"I’ve never lost a mouse in 10 years of teaching them to surf and skate," he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Tim Marsden/Newspix / Rex Features

His furry little friends are so audacious they can even fly through rings of fire.

Mr Willmott, 42, has been training mice to surf for about 10 years, saying that they are "unbelievable swimmers", but switched to skateboards when it became too cold for the beach.

"They love it," he said. "Mice are built to surf and skate because their centre of gravity is so low. When they do fall off, they want to get straight back on board."

However, even if they do fall off they will not get hurt. Willmott provides them with kitchen sponges to break their fall.

The mice are also given toys to play with, including remote-controlled cars and a little luxury cruiser dubbed the Rodent Express.

"I'm 42 but I'm still 14 in my mind," Willmott admitted.

Pet mice ride on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Shane Willmott in his backyard Skateboarding mice on The Gold Coast, Australia - Aug 2013 After achieving worldwide fame by teaching his pet mice to surf, Shane Willmott has now trained them to ride skateboards. These gnarly little dudes 'drop the vert ramp' and get airborne on mouse-sized toy skateboards in a mouse-sized skate park built by Mr Willmott in his Gold Coast backyard. The furry daredevils even fly through a ring of fire. Mr Willmott, who has been training mice to surf for about 10 years, said he decided to teach them to skate because it was too cold in winter to take them to the beach. "They love it," he said. "Mice are built to surf and skate because their centre of gravity is so low. When they do fall off, they want to get straight back on board."
Tim Marsden/Newspix / Rex Features

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