feature-image
feature-image

The sport of surfing has a diversity of surfing prototypes. From longboard surfers and short board surfers to wake surfers and windsurfers, the sporting universe of surfing has covered it all. But, have you ever heard of a cat surfer? Now, of course, many of us are oblivious to the surfing flair of a cat. Apparently, the cats can paddle into the ocean with utmost efficiency. Nevertheless, the world of surfing is acquainted with one such cat who rides oceanic ripples exceptionally well.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Nanakuli is a one-eyed cat, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. Moreover, Kuli admires water and loves to paddle into the deep blue waves. Interestingly, the one-eyed characteristic of Kuli helped him to grace the vastness of the ocean and gave him an opportunity to perform some commendable prompts. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Hawaiian cat’s surfing spree

In 2016, Nanakuli’s surfing video went viral and was applauded by many surfing fanatics. As per the report of Sodon, the Hawaiian-based surfers viz. Alexandra Gomez and Krista Littleton adopted a kitten from the animal shelter. And, named him Nanakuli, as Kuli means “to look blind”. However, during his adoption, Kuli was an infant and was suffering from an eye infection, “necessitating surgery to remove it”.

View this post on Instagram

Moreover, as a post-requisite of the surgery, the “cat had to regularly bathe”. It turned out that Kuli got besotted by the water. Hence, his owners “started teaching him how to swim”. And, with a disciplined training montage, the one-eyed cat started surfing when “he was 6 months old”.

Read More: “Choppy Waters While Rocking Heels”: Canadian Wake Surfing Sensation Woos Fans With Out of the Box Prompts Last Year

As per Alexandra, Kuli was “very weak and malnourished” when he was an infant. But, “he has grown very quickly into a very tolerant cat and loves the water”. Interestingly, Gomez and Littleton started Nanakuli’s training with a longboard instead of putting him on a “boogie board”. And, to make his pedagogy easier, Alexandra and Krista bought a board that can accommodate Kuli on the same surfboard as them. Moreover, before the Hawaiian cat “could swim confidently on his own”, he “always wore a life jacket”. 

View this post on Instagram

Owing to his love for surfing, Kuli’s owners have documented several videos of the cat paddling effortlessly into the ocean. Not just that, Kuli’s Instagram handle speaks volumes when it comes to his admiration for surfing. Clearly, Nanakuli loves the sport of surfing dearly.

Watch this story: A huge shock for surfing fans before vans pipeline from Kelly Slater and John John Florence

What do you think about the Hawaiian cat’s intrigue for surfing? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Purva Jain

521 Articles

Purva Jain is the Senior Editor for US Sports at EssentiallySports, heading coverage of Track & Field, Gymnastics, Tennis, Alpine Skiing, Swimming and other verticles. She oversees day-to-day operations and mentors a large team of editors and writers on uncovering unique angles to stories. A writer-turned-editor, Purva began her ES journey with standout coverage of the 2022/23 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup and went on to capture the excitement of the 2023 Kentucky Derby for American audiences. Her reporting has spanned five major global events, including the 2023 World Athletics Championships, 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Beyond her newsroom leadership, Purva is the author of three self-published books, showcasing her creative range beyond journalism. She also brings expertise in audience engagement and storytelling strategy, helping shape how fans experience sports coverage.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Pritam Priyedarshi

ADVERTISEMENT